Wavelength converters based on laterally coupled semiconductor active waveguides

For all optical networks using wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), it is necessary to use wavelength converters for reuse of wavelength and spatial routing. Presently, to implement all optical wavelength converters, several promising techniques have been proposed. In this paper, we propose a novel structure which comprises semiconductor optical amplifier and laterally coupled cavity semiconductor laser with that, to solve problems in conventional wavelength converters. The device does not need MZI configuration so that it permits large tolerance to input-power range. Because the LD operate over threshold, intensity-modulated (IM) output give relatively small chirp and it allow operation at high speed and is applicable to the LD´s characteristic: tunability etc. Also this structure does not need additional light sources, so that the device can be compact