All-optical remote switching for multiplexed optical fiber sensorsand communications systems

All-optical self-routing switches are described which automatically route optical data signals. These switches require no separate source of power, and have been demonstrated to operate from a single input laser beam of 300 μW. The input laser beam contains the data, destination address, and optical power. These optical switches can be used for all-optical communication systems, and are used as an example in this paper to demonstrate remote switching via an optical fiber to a sensor. The sensor modulates the optical carrier which returns the modulated carrier to the source end of the fiber. The switch demonstrates auto-aligning properties which ensure correct rerouting of the modulated signal back to the source. Operation has been demonstrated for all the visible lines of an argon ion laser     

Selfrouting optical interconnects

A new type of selfrouting optical interconnect (SROI) is described where an optical signal beam or optical data packet is routed to a destination using an all optical switch where the destination is defined within the optical signal by the autocorrelation function of the optical signal.<>