All Optical Networks: Fiber Optics Will Become More Efficient as Light WavesReplace Electrons For Processing Signals in Communications Networks

摘要

ALL-OPTICAL NETWORKS operate without converting the optical signal to anelectronic format. Each computer or video camera in a segment of the network, or subnetwork, such as the one at the left, uses a transmitter to send a single wavelength-represented by the colored lines. Each wavelength can carry several gigabits per second. The three signals are multiplexed, or merged, into an optical fiber and are sent through an optical amplifier that boosts the signals. Then each wavelength moves into a router, from which it is sent to other subnetworks. If two signals share the same wavelength within the same fiber-as happens in the subnetwork at the upper right-a wavelength converter changes one of the signals to a different wavelength to avoid a conflict; the signal from the router is switched from red to blue, for example.