Performance evaluation of a wavelength converter based on semiconductor optical amplifier as a symmetrical-MZI configuration

Analytical results are presented for a wavelength converter based on cross-phase modulation arranged as two semiconductor optical amplifiers in Mach-Zehnder configuration. Performance characteristics are evaluated for NRZ signal at a bit rate of 10 Gb/s and converted signal power, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and signal-to-crosstalk ratio (SCR) are presented for different variable parameters. It is noticed that optical filter bandwidth has a great influence on converted signal power and also SNR and SCR. Converted signal power, SNR and SCR also depend on frequency separation between pump and probe laser. Variation of SOA driving current and pump intensity cause the SNR performance of the wavelength converter to change. An optimum conversion performance can be achieved by choosing all suitable parameters considered in the numerical results.