Monolithically integrated wavelength-routing switch using tunable wavelength converters with double-ring-resonator tunable lasers

We present an 8 × 8 wavelength-routing switch (WRS) that monolithically integrates tunable wavelength converters (TWCs) and an 8 × 8 arrayed-waveguide grating. The TWC consists of a double-ring-resonator tunable laser (DRR TL) allowing rapid and stable switching and a semiconductor-optical- amplifier-based optical gate. Two different types of dry-etched mirrors form the laser cavity of the DRR TL, which enable integration of the optical components of the WRS on a single chip. The monolithic WRS performed 1 × 8 high-speed wavelength routing of a non-return-to-zero signal at 10Gbit/s. The switching operation was demonstrated by simultaneously using two adjacent TWCs.