Abstract :
Wavelength-division multiplexing has been recognized for a number of years as a promising and applied technology that can be used to increase the aggregate system bit rate. More attention has been given to devices and technologies that can be exploited to enable WDM to move from being a pure transmission technology into a state where it can be applied in transparent all-optical networks. In particular, devices and technologies such as wavelength routing switches, switched sources, tunable sources, tunable filters, and wavelength converters have all been developed and demonstrated. This article gives a description of the technologies, subsystems, and network architectures that rely on multiple wavelengths to achieve full transparent all-optical connectivity joined, in many instances, with features like scalability, modularity, and survivability. Exposure is also given to most of the current WDM demonstrators
Keywords :
laser tuning; optical fibre networks; optical wavelength conversion; photonic switching systems; telecommunication network reliability; telecommunication network routing; wavelength division multiplexing; WDM demonstrators; modularity; network architectures; network technologies; photonic switched sources; scalable dynamic dense WDM networks; subsystems; survivability; system bit rate; transmission technology; transparent all-optical networks; tunable filters; tunable sources; tuned lasers; wavelength converters; wavelength routing switches; wavelength-division multiplexing; Arrayed waveguide gratings; Circuit optimization; Communication switching; Filters; Laser tuning; Switches; Tunable circuits and devices; WDM networks; Wavelength division multiplexing; Wavelength routing;
