Exploiting micro-ring resonators for all-optical label extractor/eraser of inband labels and 160 Gb/s payload

Photonic integration of an all-optical packet switch (AOPS) allows a great reduction of volume, power consumption and costs. Recently a 1x4 AOPS was successfully demonstrated by using an all-optical label extractor/eraser. Nonetheless, photonic integration of the AOPS was prevented by the label extractor/eraser integration. Here, we demonstrate a photonic integrated label extractor/eraser for in-band labeling addresses and 160 Gb/s payload by using a silicon micro-ring resonator with passtrough and drop ports. By exploiting the narrow bandwidth of the drop port and passthrough port simultaneous error-free label extraction/erasing has been performed without noticeable pulse distortion