40-Gbit/s photonic random access memory for photonic packet-switched networks

We present a photonic random access memory (RAM) that can write and read high-speed asynchronous burst optical packets freely by specifying addresses. The photonic RAM consists of an optical clock-pulse generator, an all-optical serial-to-parallel converter, a photonic parallel-to-serial converter, all developed by us, and a CMOS RAM as a storage medium. Unlike conventional optical buffers, which merely function as optical delay lines, the photonic RAM provides various advantages, such as compactness, large capacity, long-term storage, and random access at an arbitrary timing for ultrafast asynchronous burst optical packets. We experimentally confirm its basic operation for 40-Gbit/s 16-bit optical packets.