Abstract

All-optical label swapping (AOLS), an approach to transparently route IP packets all-optically, can revolutionize the future Internet. AOLS uses optical encapsulation to route packets independent of their bit-rate, format or length. Photonic technologies like rapidly tunable all-optical wavelength converters play a key role in realizing AOLS. This article also covers semiconductor optical amplifier and nonlinear optical-fiber-based wavelength converter implementations. Results of an AOLS systems demonstration with 40-Gbit/s packets are shown.

[Optical Society of America ]