Bit error rate assessment of 20 Gbit/s all-optical wavelength conversion for co- and counter-directional coupling scheme

20 Gbit/s polarisation independent wavelength conversion by cross-gain modulation in a semiconductor optical amplifier is achieved for both a co- and counter-directional coupling scheme. The experiments, which were performed with pulsed probe signals, resulted in penalties of only 1.2 and 2.5 dB, respectively.