Optical time-division multiplexer utilizing a modulation signal supplied to optical modulators as a reference

We propose and demonstrate an optical time-division multiplexer which multiplexes optical pulse trains coming from different sources and which varies their time position, it controls the time position of each pulse train on the basis of a modulation signal supplied to optical modulators and outputs a multiplexed pulse train in a synchronized state. Experiments demonstrate that the pull-in time was less than 10 s and that a time-varying pulse train passing through an 80-km-long fiber can be controlled to a desired position within 200 ps/spl times/0.47%.