Ultra-low latency optical packet switching node

A photonic packet switching node is introduced, and its routing latency is shown to be 15.3 ns. The power penalty of the node at a bit-error rate (BER) of 10/sup -9/ is confirmed to be approximately 0.2 dB across 33 nm of the C-band for 10-Gb/s payload wavelengths. Moreover, multiple-wavelength packets containing 16 payload wavelengths can be switched while maintaining BERs of 10/sup -12/ or better.