Improved crosstalk performance of InP-based cross- connect by using phase scrambling

We demonstrate a reduction in the effects of homodyne crosstalk in an InP-based 2x2 four WDM channel optical cross-connect by using a phase scrambling technique. By choosing an appropriate scrambling format, satisfactory transmission at a 2.5-Gbit/s bitrate is possible eventhough crosstalk levels are quite high, namely around -15 dB. We observed a small crosstalk penalty of less than 1 dB. This result demonstrates the feasibility of optical networking employing switching technologies such as cross-connects or add-drop multiplexers by tolerating relatively high crosstalk levels.