SOA gate array recirculating buffer with fiber delay loop

We present a compact variable delay buffer for storage of 40 byte packets. The recirculating buffer is based on an InP SOA gate array two-by-two switch which provides greater than 40 dB of extinction, sub-nanosecond switching, and fiber-to-fiber gain. The switch is used with a fiber delay loop 450 centimeters, or 23 ns, in length. The buffer is demonstrated with greater than 98% packet recovery at 40 Gb/s for up to 184 ns of storage.