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We propose a cost-effective implementation of reconfigurable add&drop functionality in Optical Cross Connects based on the concept of common add&drop in the node (OXC with per- Node Add&Drop, OXC-NAD). The proposed architecture constrains usable transponders wavelengths, but the analysis on significant mesh topologies demonstrates that this does not affect the behavior of the transparent networks. The OXC-NAD is shown to also significantly reduce the node cost irrespective of the nodal degree.

A testbed implementation for 100 Gb/s Ethernet optical time division multiplexing experiments is described along with optical subsystems used in its implementation. Testbed potentialities relating to wavelength division multiplexing and hybrid wavelength/polarization division multiplexing implementations are also described. First experimental results at 20 Gb/s are carried out demonstrating a power penalty lower than 1 dB.

We present results on spectral gain changes resulting from small changes of pump wavelength in erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs). While conventional-band EDFAs exhibit a significant effect with 980-nm pumping and a smaller effect with 1480 nm, it is absent for extended-band EDFAs operating around 1585 nm.

A new method to determine the Er-fiber gain coefficient is presented using a dynamic gain tilt technique. Results demonstrate that this method is very simple, highly accurate, and especially useful for long-wavelength erbium-doped fiber amplifier.