Method and system for optical wavelength conversion and regeneration

摘要

An on/off switchable source (2) of a continuous optical signal at a respective wavelength (lambd2) is provided to be turned off when the wavelength (lambd1) of the modulated incoming signal (IS) corresponds to the respective wavelength (lambd2) generated by the source while turning said source (2) on when the wavelength (lambd1) of the incoming signal (IS) differs from the source wavelength (lambd2). A Michelson interferometer (10) is provided adapted to receive the incoming signal (IS) and the continuous optical signal generated by the source (2) to produce an output signal (OS). The Michelson interferometer (10) is adapted to give rise to destructive viz. constructive interference when the incoming signal (IS) has first and second logical values, respectively. When the wavelength (lambd1) of the incoming signal (IS), which is not generally known a priori, corresponds to the source wavelength (lambd2), the source (2) is switched off and the output signal (OS) is a replica of the incoming signal (IS) regenerated at the interferometer (10). When the wavelength (lambd1) of the incoming signal (IS) differs from the source wavelength (lambd2), the source (2) is switched on and the output signal (OS) is a replica of the incoming signal (IS) regenerated at the interferometer (10) and wavelength converted to the source wavelength (lambd2).