Design and analysis of all-optical switches based on fiber parametric devices

We propose a novel 2 × 2 wavelength-convertible optical switch based on dual-pump fiber parametric devices: one is driven by linearly parallel pumps, and the other one by perpendicular pumps. Theoretical analysis is made on the polarization effects on the switching performance of the two devices. The result predicts that two incident signals which are positioned symmetrically with respect to one pump can be switched independently, with judicious combinations of the relative pump-signal polarization states. Simulations performed in OptiSystem show that the scheme can achieve crosstalk-free packet switching with acceptable extinction ratios for both signals. Besides, future applications of this novel scheme in high-speed switching nodes are discussed.