IRIS optical packet router [Invited]

We present a load-balanced packet router with an all-optical data plane and a decentralized control plane. The router, whose architecture scales up to 256 Tbit/s with current technology, consists of two space switches based on wavelength converters and large N X N arrayed-waveguide gratings, surrounding a deterministic time buffer. First experimental results have been obtained in a 2 X 2 testbed with 40 Gbit/s wavelength converters that use monolithically-integrated semiconductor optical amplifiers, and with fiber-delay-line time buffers. (C) 2006 Optical Society of America.