Tunable 105 ns optical delay for 80 Gb/s RZ-DQPSK, 40 Gb/s RZ-DPSK, and 40 Gb/s RZ-OOK signals using wavelength conversion and chromatic dispersion

We demonstrate a variable, optical-delay element using tunable wavelength conversion in a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide, dispersion-compensating fiber and intrachannel dispersion compensation. A delay of up to 105 ns is demonstrated using 80 Gb/s return-to-zero differential-quadrature phase-shift keying, 40 Gb/s return-to-zero differential phase-shift keying, and 40 Gb/s return-to-zero on-off keying modulation formats. Bit-error rates <10(-9) are demonstrated for each waveform at various delay settings. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America