All-Optical Frequency Processor for Networking Applications

Journal Article · Fri Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2019 · Journal of Lightwave Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/JLT.2019.2953363· OSTI ID:1615223

Lukens, Joseph M. ^[1]; Lu, Hsuan-Hao ^[2]; Qi, Bing ^[1]; Lougovski, Pavel ^[1]; Weiner, Andrew M. ^[2]; Williams, Brian P. ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
2. Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (United States)

Herein, we propose an electro-optic approach for transparent optical networking, in which frequency channels are actively transformed into any desired mapping in a wavelength-multiplexed environment. Based on electro-optic phase modulators and Fourier-transform pulse shapers, our all-optical frequency processor (AFP) is examined numerically for the specific operations of frequency channel hopping and broadcasting, and found capable of implementing these transformations with favorable component requirements. Extending our analysis via a mutual-information–based metric for system optimization, we show how to optimize transformation performance under limited resources in a classical context, contrasting the results with those found using metrics motivated by quantum information, such as fidelity and success probability. Given its compatibility with on-chip implementation, as well as elimination of optical-to-electrical conversion in frequency channel switching, the AFP looks to offer valuable potential in silicon photonic network design, as well as the realization of high-dimensional frequency-bin gates.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) (SC-21)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1615223
• Journal Information: Journal of Lightwave Technology, Journal Name: Journal of Lightwave Technology Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 38; ISSN 0733-8724
• Publisher: IEEE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
electrooptic modulators
frequency combs
optical pulse shaping
phase modulation
quantum computing