Ultrafast polarisation-independent all-optical switching using a polarisation diversity scheme in the nonlinear optical loop mirror

Polarisation-independent 32 to 8 Gbit/s demultiplexing in the nonlinear optical loop mirror is successfully demonstrated using a novel polarisation diversity scheme in which two independent switching operations are performed along the two principal axes of a polarisation-maintaining fibre loop. The variation of the switched signal powers is measured to be less than 1 dB as the input polarisation direction is varied over 180°.