Analysis of optical time division multiplexed transmission

Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) is making a major impact on current high-speed optical communications and configurable network applications. Its counterpart optical time division multiplexing (OTDM) promises high-speed short pulse transmission with the fiber capacity utilized more efficiently. This paper looks at simulations of OTDM data in a time division demultiplexer. The system used to demultiplex the data is the Asymmetric Semiconductor laser Amplifier Loop Mirror (ASLALOM) which is capable of selecting high-speed optical pulses within a data train. The authors use a model of the ASLALOM which includes a time and space analysis of a traveling wave semiconductor laser amplifier. Our investigations show that this system produces crosstalk that is dependent on the data rate, which we analyzed over a range of 200 to 300 Gbit/s. Investigations also show that the crosstalk profile is dependent of the control pulse energy. We also investigate the effect of the switching window width and note two types of crosstalk are evident. The control pulse rate is varied and the effect analyzed.