Demonstration of an all-optical data format transparent WDM-to-TDM network node with extinction ratio enhancement for reconfigurable WDM networks

We demonstrate a nearly penalty free, all-optical and robust WDM-to-TDM network node that converts two input WDM channels into one high-speed TDM signal. Our node incorporates the very useful functions of: 1) WDM input data-format transparency; 2) time multiplexing; 3) wavelength shifting; and 4) extinction ratio enhancement of the output TDM signal. We demonstrate the principle of this network node by converting two 1-Gb/s NRZ WDM channels at 1552 and 1548 nm into a 2-Gb/s NRZ TDM signal at 1558-nm, while incurring only a 0.2 dB power penalty.