Abstract: An optical transmission method (10) comprising steps of receiving (12) a communication signal comprising symbols for transmission. The method comprises performing (16) linear amplitude modulation of an optical carrier with the communication signal to generate an amplitude modulated optical carrier. The method comprises performing low-pass filtering (14) to reduce a bandwidth of the symbols to less than a Nyquist bandwidth of the symbols. The method comprises transmitting (18) the amplitude modulated optical carrier. The method further comprises receiving (20) the amplitude modulated optical carrier following transmission and performing direct detection of the received amplitude modulated optical carrier to generate a received electrical signal; and determining (22) received symbols from the received electrical signal using an indication of a nonlinear impulse response of the direct detection.

Abstract: An optical transmission method (10) comprising steps of receiving (12) a communication signal comprising symbols for transmission. The method comprises performing (16) linear amplitude modulation of an optical carrier with the communication signal to generate an amplitude modulated optical carrier. The method comprises performing low-pass filtering (14) to reduce a bandwidth of the symbols to less than a Nyquist bandwidth of the symbols. The method comprises transmitting (18) the amplitude modulated optical carrier. The method further comprises receiving (20) the amplitude modulated optical carrier following transmission and performing direct detection of the received amplitude modulated optical carrier to generate a received electrical signal; and determining (22) received symbols from the received electrical signal using an indication of a nonlinear impulse response of the direct detection.

Abstract: A method of transmitting communications traffic, the method comprising steps of receiving a sequence of communications traffic bits; and mapping the sequence of communications traffic bits onto a respective one of a plurality of transmission symbols for transmission during a symbol time. Each transmission symbol is identified by a respective first symbol identifier indicative of a respective one or more of a plurality, M, of wavelengths for a transmission signal and a respective second symbol identifier indicative of a respective one or more of a plurality, N, of optical fibers on which to transmit the transmission signal.

Abstract: A transceiver (4) comprising a receive part (70) configured to receive and detect a first signal carried on an optical carrier, wherein the signal is in a first part of a RF spectrum. The transceiver (4) further comprises a modulator (68) configured to modulate the same optical carrier with a second signal in a second part of the RF spectrum. The transceiver comprises a transmit part (60) configured to transmit the optical carrier modulated with the second signal. The first part of the RF spectrum is separate to the second part of the RF spectrum. The first signal and/or second signal are spectrally compressed signals.

Abstract: A method of transmitting communications traffic, the method comprising steps of receiving a sequence of communications traffic bits; and mapping the sequence of communications traffic bits onto a respective one of a plurality of transmission symbols for transmission during a symbol time. Each transmission symbol is identified by a respective first symbol identifier indicative of a respective one or more of a plurality, M, of wavelengths for a transmission signal and a respective second symbol identifier indicative of a respective one or more of a plurality, N, of optical fibres on which to transmit the transmission signal.

Abstract: A transceiver (4) comprising a receive part (70) configured to receive and detect a first signal carried on an optical carrier, wherein the signal is in a first part of a RF spectrum. The transceiver (4) further comprises a modulator (68) configured to modulate the same optical carrier with a second signal in a second part of the RF spectrum. The transceiver comprises a transmit part (60) configured to transmit the optical carrier modulated with the second signal. The first part of the RF spectrum is separate to the second part of the RF spectrum. The first signal and/or second signal are spectrally compressed signals.

Abstract: A 2n quadrature amplitude modulation optical modulator has an optical input for receiving an optical signal. A first splitter is coupled to the optical input and has first and second outputs. A first optical modulation apparatus, coupled to the first output, applies a modulation scheme having 2n-2 constellation points to produce a first modulated optical signal representing an in-phase component. A second optical modulation apparatus, coupled to the second output, applies a modulation scheme having 2n-2 constellation point to produce a second modulated optical signal representing a quadrature component. An optical combiner combines the first and second modulated optical signals to produce an output modulated optical signal which is modulated with a modulation scheme having 2n constellation points.

Abstract: An optical flip-flop comprises first (102) and second (104) flip-flop elements arranged to respectively provide first (output 1) and second (output 3) optical outputs. Each output is in one of a plurality of states, wherein switching the output from a relatively high power state to a relatively low power state has an associated falling edge transition time, and switching the output from a relatively low power state to a relatively high power state has an associated rising edge transition time. The rising edge transition time is greater than the falling edge transition time.

Abstract: An optical logic gate (10) comprising inputs (12) for optical signals on which to perform a chosen logical operation. An SOA (11) element receives such input signals to be piloted thereby in saturation and its output is connected to at least one optical filter (14, 15, 16) that filters components of signals output from the SOA and which represent a desired logical result of the signals input at the gate so that at the output (13) of the filter there is an optical signal as the result of the desired logical operation. A probe signal (17) can also be provided. An appropriate combination of power of the input, power and probe signal wavelength and central wavelength of the filter allows obtaining a plurality of logic functions such as NOR, NOT, inverted XOR, AND, OR.

Abstract: An optical circuit comprises a bistable optical waveguide having first and second transmission states, and is more transmissive to light of a given wavelength in the second state than in the first state. First and second light sources emit light of first and second wavelengths, respectively, and are coupled to the waveguide at one end. Selectively transmitting a sufficient amount of light of the first wavelength through the waveguide switches the waveguide into the second state. Selectively transmitting a sufficient amount of light of the second wavelength through the waveguide switches it back to the first state. A sensing light source at the other end of the waveguide transmits a sensing light signal through the waveguide in the opposite propagation direction to that of light of the first and second wavelengths. A sensor detects the amount of the sensing light signal transmitted through the waveguide.

Abstract: An optical flip-flop comprises first (102) and second (104) flip-flop elements arranged to respectively provide first (output 1) and second (output 3) optical outputs. Each output is in one of a plurality of states, wherein switching the output from a relatively high power state to a relatively low power state has an associated falling edge transition time, and switching the output from a relatively low power state to a relatively high power state has an associated rising edge transition time. The rising edge transition time is greater than the falling edge transition time.

Abstract: An optical circuit comprises a bistable optical waveguide (34) having a first and a second transmission state. The waveguide is more transmissive to light of a given wavelength in the second state than in the first state. A first light source (11) and a second light source (21) emit light of a first and second wavelength respectively and are coupled to the waveguide at one end. Selective transmission of a sufficient amount of light of the first wavelength through the waveguide “sets” the waveguide, causing it to switch from the first into the second state, whereas transmission of a sufficient amount of light of the second wavelength “resets” the waveguide causing it to switch back from the second into the first state. A sensing or reading (“test”) light source (36) is arranged at the other end of the waveguide to transmit a sensing light signal through the waveguide (34) in the opposite propagation direction to that of light of the first and second wavelengths.

Abstract: An optical logic gate (10) comprising inputs (12) for optical signals on which to perform a chosen logical operation. An SOA (11) element receives such input signals to be piloted thereby in saturation and its output is connected to at least one optical filter (14, 15, 16) that filters components of signals output from the SOA and which represent a desired logical result of the signals input at the gate so that at the output (13) of the filter there is an optical signal as the result of the desired logical operation. A probe signal (17) can also be provided. An appropriate combination of power of the input, power and probe signal wavelength and central wavelength of the filter allows obtaining a plurality of logic functions such as NOR, NOT, inverted XOR, AND, OR.