Packet Switching Performance at 10 Gb/s Across a 4>tex<$times$>/tex<4 Optical Crosspoint Switch Matrix

Packet-switching characteristics of an integrated 4 /spl times/ 4 InGaAsP-InP active vertical coupler optical cross-point switch matrix are optimized. Optical gain differences of less then 3 dB between the shortest and longest switching paths are achieved. Bit-error rate (BER) and power penalty measurements during packet routing have been carried out over the entire 4 /spl times/ 4 matrix. At 10-Gb/s packet data rate less than 1-dB power penalty is found across the switch matrix, and the possibility for error-free packet routing is demonstrated with no BER floor observed.