Technological coupling, job characteristics and operators' well-being as moderated by desirability of control

This study proposes that the nature of Automated Manufacturing Technology (AMT)-as reflected in the degree of 'technological coupling' and as perceived by shop floor operators in terms of new job control characteristics (timing and method control, monitoring and problem solving demand, production responsibility)-affects operators' psychological well-being (satisfaction and mental health). The study sample consisted of 216 operators of AMT equipment. Findings indicate that technological coupling is negatively related to the job characteristics of timing and method control, and to psychological well-being variables. Operators' satisfaction is positively related to problem solving, production responsibility and timing and method control. Mental health is negatively related to production responsibility. Implications for job redesign and employees selection to AMT work units are discussed. Yet, results indicate that operators' response to technological coupling is contingent upon their desirability of control (DC). For operators with low DC (as opposed to high DC) coupling conditions did not make any difference in psychological well-being.     

SOA-Assisted Data-Polarization-Insensitive Wavelength Conversion in a PPLN Waveguide

We demonstrate a novel method of wavelength conversion in a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide using polarization modulation and amplitude modulation of its pump. Polarization-insensitive, all-optical, intensity-to-polarization conversion in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) is used to reduce the waveguide's polarization sensitivity from >30 dB to <1 dB. We demonstrate BER measurements of the converted signal at 2.5 Gb/s. We also demonstrate polarization modulation of the PPLN waveguide pump using cross-polarization modulation in highly nonlinear fiber (HNLF) at 10 Gb/s.     

Performance limits of first-order PMD compensators using fixed andvariable DGD elements

In this letter, we analyze optical polarization-mode dispersion compensators using a single differential-group-delay (DGD) element that is either fixed or variable. We evaluate the upper-bound performance limits, and quantify the compensator performance under dynamic operations. We show that the variable-delay compensator can reduce the risk of feedback loops trapping a locally optimized state. Moreover, the variable-delay approach provides superior performance as compared to a fixed-delay compensator by increasing the optimal system tolerance for a 10-Gb/s nonreturn-to-zero signal from 28 to 33 ps of average link DGD     

Simplified model of an FSK-to-ASK direct-detection system using aFabry-Perot demodulator

Design guidelines are presented for a direct-detection optical transmission system in which an FSK (frequency-shift-keyed) signal is converted to ASK (amplitude-shift-keyed format) by a tunable Fabry-Perot filter demodulator/demultiplexer. The analysis gives an estimated set of conditions for the proper Fabry-Periot (FP) bandwidth and tone frequency deviation that reduces the system power penalities. This is accomplished by calculating the tonal power transmitted through the FP; this simplifying assumption neglects pattern dependences but provides a simple, useful expression for predicting regions of rapidly increasing power penalties. The generated curves agree well with experimental results for three different systems     

NRZ versus RZ in 10-40-Gb/s dispersion-managed WDM transmissionsystems

We compare nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ) with return-to-zero (RZ) modulation format for wavelength-division-multiplexed systems operating at data rates up to 40 Gb/s. We find that in 10-40-Gb/s dispersion-managed systems (single-mode fiber alternating with dispersion compensating fiber), NRZ is more adversely affected by nonlinearities, whereas RZ is more affected by dispersion. In this dispersion map, 10- and 20-Gb/s systems operate better using RZ modulation format because nonlinearity dominates. However, 40-Gb/s systems favor the usage of NRZ because dispersion becomes the key limiting factor at 40 Gb/s     

Experimental demonstration of fast simultaneous wavelength switching and time demultiplexing using a nonlinear optical loop mirror

Simultaneous all-optical high-speed wavelength switching and time demultiplexing is experimentally demonstrated using a nonlinear optical loop mirror, an integrated passive wavelength router, and fast optical space switches. With >1.2-GHz wavelength switching speeds and 2.5 Gb/s time demultiplexing speeds, both packet switching and isolated-bit extraction are demonstrated. The time switching can potentially be applied to data rates >100 Gb/s.     

Degree-of-polarization-based PMD monitoring for subcarrier-multiplexed signals via equalized carrier/sideband filtering

We demonstrate a method for differential-group-delay (DGD) and polarization-mode-dispersion (PMD) monitoring using the degree-of-polarization (DOP) in subcarrier-multiplexed (SCM) systems. Traditional SCM signal show very little DOP sensitivity to DGD/PMD due to the low modulation depth used for generating SCM signals. We use a narrow-band optical filter to equalize the power of the carrier and one of the sidebands by offsetting the filter from the carrier, enabling PMD and DGD monitoring and more than tripling the DOP sensitivity to DGD/PMD. Our technique is simple, uses only a single optical filter, and can be applied to both single- and double-sideband (SSB and DSB) SCM signals as well as single and multisubcarrier systems. Additionally, we show that our monitoring technique is robust to the chromatic dispersion-induced radio-frequency (RF) power fading effect seen in DSB SCM signals. Using this technique to enhance the DOP sensitivity to DGD/PMD and generate a feedback signal to a PMD compensator (PMDC), we obtain an 11-dB improvement in the 5% RF power tail.     

Experimental demonstration of a multiple-/spl lambda/ wavelength shifter for dynamically reconfigurable WDM networks

We demonstrate a multiple-/spl lambda/ wavelength shifter that is based on temporal interleaving and semiconductor optical amplifier cross-gain compression. Our multiple-/spl lambda/ wavelength shifter is transparent to both the nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ) and return-to-zero (RZ) input data-formats. We simultaneously wavelength shift two independent NRZ 1-Gb/s WDM channels from 1548 and 1552 nm to 1540 and 1569 nm, respectively, with low-power penalties.