All-optical switch based on two-pump four-wave mixing in fibers without a frequency shift

Abstract

We report an all-optical switch based on two-pump four-wave mixing in fibers. The switched signal is not shifted in frequency in this scheme. For different signal wavelengths, the pump wavelengths and powers can be optimized to achieve the best performance. The principle of how to design the switch is discussed in detail. A high extinction ratio of -60 dB is obtained when the pump parameters are optimized by a genetic algorithm that exhibits good convergence property and high computing efficiency. The effect of zero-dispersion wavelength fluctuations along the fiber on the switch is analyzed. ©2007 Optical Society of America.