全光缓存器可实现数据包在光域内的缓存,是全光路由、全光计算以及全光交换的关键部件之一。提出了一种基于半导体光放大器(SOA)中非线性偏振旋转(PR)的光纤环型全光缓存器结构; 提出了一种利用偏振主态(PSP)寻找两个正交线偏振态以及在线实时测量光纤中偏振态的方法。通过改变SOA的注入电流,实现了对两个正交偏振态转化的控制,利用这两个正交的线偏振态,实现了信号的“写”入和“读”出。利用该结构的缓存器,实现了2.5 Gb/s的1024 bits数据包6圈的缓存,缓存后的信号波形良好。

All-optical buffer can store the packets in optical-domain and is a key component in all-optical router, all-optical calculation and all-optical switching. A novel all-optical buffer based on nonlinear polarization rotation in semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and a method which utilizes the principal states of polarization (PSP) to find two orthogonal linear states of polarization (SOPs) were proposed. This method can measure the SOP on-line. By adjusting the injection current of SOA the conversion between two orthogonal linear SOPs was realized. The operation of the proposed optical buffer at 2.5 Gb/s was experimentally setup. The writing in and reading out operations of 1024 bits random data for 6 circulations by this optical buffer were demonstrated.