Three-input optical addition and subtraction of quaternary base numbers.

We present an approach to implementing three-input addition and subtraction of quaternary base numbers in the optical domain using multiple non-degenerate four-wave mixing (FWM) processes in a single highly nonlinear fiber (HNLF) and differential quadrature phase-shift keying (DQPSK) signals. By employing 100-Gbit/s three-input return-to-zero DQPSK (RZ-DQPSK) signals (A, B, C), we demonstrate 50-Gbaud/s three-input quaternary hybrid addition and subtraction (A + B-C, A + C-B, B + C-A). Moreover, by adding a conversion stage from C to -C via conjugated degenerate FWM, we also demonstrate 50-Gbaud/s three-input quaternary addition (A + B + C). The power penalties of three-input quaternary addition and subtraction (A + B-C, A + C-B, B + C-A, A + B + C) are measured to be less than 6 dB at a bit-error rate (BER) of 10(-9). In addition, no significant degradations are observed for RZ-DQPSK signals (A, B, C or -C) after the operations of quaternary addition and subtraction.