Fundamental limits of all-optical NRZ-to-solitonconversion by nonlinear optical loop mirrors

All-optical NRZ-to-RZ conversion through nonlinear optical loop mirrors (NOLM) is analysed. By computing the time-bandwidth output characteristics, we investigate the dependence of the NOLM switching power and control envelope on the chirp of the switched RZ pulses. The effect of this chirp on further propagation in the soliton regime and related continuum generation is then analysed by an inverse-scattering transform.