Studies on a 128 Line Photonic Space Division Switching Network Using LiNb03 Switch Matrices and Optical Amplifiers

Abstract

Photonic space division (SD) switching systems are particularly promising and most practical for providing the necessary broad-band services for future telecommunication needs. A 32 line SD switching system employing polarization independent LiNbO3 8×8 switch matrices [1] has already been demonstrated for use in a Local-Area-Network [2]. Application expansion of such a switching system requires further increasing the line capacity to greater than 100 lines. Introducing semiconductor Traveling Wave Amplifiers (TWAs) to the switching network would be a very effective method for achieving such an increase [3]-[5].