Wavelength conversion using semiconductor optical amplifiers in differential Mach-Zehnder interferometer with tunable input coupler

A monolithically-integrated wavelength converter on an InP platform with a semiconductor optical amplifier in each arm of a differential Mach-Zehnder interferometer is presented. The data input has a tunable coupler that adjusts the splitting ratio of the optical power sent to each arm. Wavelength conversion at 40 Gbit/s is demonstrated and a conversion penalty of 2 dB is found when less optical power is sent to the delayed arm.