80 Gbit/s all-optical demultiplexing using a hybrid Mach-Zehnder- interferometer switch with gain-clamped semiconductor optical amplifiers

A hybrid Mach Zehnder interferometer (MZI) was demonstrated for error free demultiplexing up to 80 Gbit/s. To the best of our knowledge this is the first hybrid MZI applied for 80 Gbit/s OTDM demultiplexing. The MZI configuration allows the highly flexible design of switching windows because most parameters can be changed independently. In particular, long switching windows with a flat top are possible. Such switching windows are of high interest for packet switching applications. The real-time scanning method we used allows a very effective optimization of the switching configuration.