Optical-fiber-coupled optical bistable semiconductor lasers

Zhing Lichen, Tang Yunxin, Qin Ying, Yili Guo

Published Dec 1, 1986• 0 citations

Abstract

A compact, low input power optical bistable device, consisting of a photodetector, an optical fiber directional coupler, and a semiconductor laser diode, was presented. The principle is described graphically to explain the observed effects such as hysteresis, differential operational gain and memory functions.

Related papers

Demonstration Of Cascadability And Spectral Bistability In Bistable Diode Laser Amplifiers

Zeqi Pan, T. N. Ding, M. Dagenais

We report the demonstration of cascadability in bistable diode laser amplifiers operated below threshold. A schematic of the experimental set-up is shown in Figure 1. There it is shown that the optical input to the first bistable diode laser amplifier is modulated by a mechanical chopper at frequency Ω1. The output from the first bistable diode laser amplifier is then modulated at Ω2= 2Ω1using a second mechanical chopper. The light is thereafter used as the input to the second bistable device. When the input intensity to the second device is higher than a certain threshold, the output switches. These results are shown in Figure 2. For these experiments, each of the bistable diode laser amplifiers were carefully studied. Detailed bistability measurements at different bias currents and different cavity detuning's were performed. It was found that both the bistability loop and the switching power gets larger as the detuning increases. The size of the hysteresis loop also increased as the laser was operated closer to threshold. In a two beam experiment, it was found that the switching power in the data beam can be as small as 25 nW. Gains larger than 1000 have been demonstrated, indicating the large fan-out capability of these devices. The turn-on and turn-off times in these bistable diode laser amplifiers was measured to be faster than 1 ns and detector limited. These bistable diode laser amplifiers are the most efficient optical devices that have yet been demonstrated and will find applications in photonic switching networks.

Digest on Nonlinear Optics: Materials, Phenomena and DevicesJan 1, 19900 citations

Optical Bistability And Switching By Non Inear Waveguiding In Semiconductor Lasers And Laser Amplifiers

John Gerard McInerney, Yuan Li, Theodore C. Salvi +1 more

Bistable optical devices (BODs) are interesting for optical switching, limiting, memory, signal conditioning and logic [1]. Semiconductor-based BODs are especially promising because their large nonlinearities should permit development of compact, rugged and efficient systems. Here we concentrate on active semiconductor BODs and switches, that is those which have internal gain, such as injection lasers and amplifiers.

Digest on Nonlinear Optics: Materials, Phenomena and DevicesJan 1, 19901 citation

A optoelectronic hybrid integrated active optical bistable device

P Zhang

In this letter, we report a novel bistable optical device composed merely of a laser diode (or LED), two PIN photodetectors and several electronic components. The effect of hysterisis has been experimentally demonstrated. The operational modes of the device, such as optical memory, optical switching, optical pulse shaping have also been achieved. The operational principle, optoelectronic hybrid integrated, technique and characteristics of the present device are described.

Acta Optica SinicaJan 1, 19900 citations

Optical bistability in vertical-cavity semiconductor optical amplifiers

Pengyue Wen, Michael Sánchez, Matthias Groß +1 more

We present an overview of the properties and applications of optical bistability in vertical-cavity semiconductor optical amplifiers (VCSOAs). The basic physics and analytical models of this optical nonlinearity are discussed. Experimental results obtained from a VCSOA operated in the 850 nm wavelength region are presented. Counterclockwise hysteresis loops are obtained over a range of initial phase detuning and bias currents. One hysteresis loop is observed experimentally with an input power as low as 2 muW when the device is biased at 98% of its lasing threshold. Numerical simulations based on the Fabry-Perot resonator model and rate equations we developed show good agreement with our experimental observations. In addition, a low input intensity high contrast (10:1) optical and gate and 2R regeneration are demonstrated. We believe that bistable VCSOAs can significantly advance the prospect of a dense two-dimensional array of low-switching-intensity all-optical logic and memory elements.

Applied OpticsAug 15, 200611 citations

Optical bistability measurements on a 1.S- μm semiconductor laser amplifier

H.J. Westlake, Matthew Adams, M.J. O’Mahony

Optical bistability in semiconductor laser amplifiers is particularly interesting because of the gain provided by the device. Small changes, in input power can result in large changes in amplifier gain, and this leads to possible applications in all-optical regenerators for transmission systems. Other possible applications include their use as optical switches and logic elements.1 Optical bistability in GaAs laser amplifiers operating at 850 nm has been reported previously.2 Here we report for the first time measured results at 1.5 μm with an InGaAsP device.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-OpticsJan 1, 19850 citations

Optical switching and bistability in tunable lasers

Kathryn Levin, Chenwei Tang

We report the observation of optical switching and bistability, and such related effects as hysteresis, optical memory, multistability, and differential gain, in an electro-optically tuned cw dye laser. Similar effects should be observable in other tunable lasers.

Applied Physics LettersMar 15, 197920 citations