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IEE Proceedings J Optoelectronics

Operating curves for optical bistable devices

P. J. Wheatley, John Edwin Midwinter

Published Dec 1, 1987• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Optical bistable devices [1] are being developed with a view to their use as logic gates in optical processors [2]. The response of an optical bistable device is strongly nonlinear and once a device has been fabricated, its behaviour as a logic gate can still be modified to a large extent by the variation of certain parameters used to bias the device, Important responses include the device’s fanout potential, its switching speed and the contrast between its high and low output levels. Because of the complexity of the behaviour, it can be difficult to see how one response varies as another is improved. The method of ‘operating curves’ explained here allows a system designer to see how optimum performance may be attained.

DOI
10.1049/ip-j:19870056

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Optical bistable devices [1] are being developed with a view to their use as logic gates in optical processors [2]. The response of an optical bistable device is strongly nonlinear and once a device has been fabricated, its behaviour as a logic gate can still be modified to a large extent by the variation of certain parameters used to bias the device, Important responses include the device’s fanout potential, its switching speed and the contrast between its high and low output levels. Because of the complexity of the behaviour, it can be difficult to see how one response varies as another is improved. The method of ‘operating curves’ explained here allows a system designer to see how optimum performance may be attained.
There is much interest in the use of optical bistable devices as logic gates for optical processors. Although desirable properties have been reported, it is difficult to see how these are offset by less desirable ones. All properties of the device can be controlled to a certain extent, principally by the bias conditions. Here we show how steady state and dynamic responses vary simultaneously with these parameters. These operating curves can be used to see the capabilities of a device or to choose the optimum bias conditions.
A graphical method is described where-by the important steady state and dynamic responses of an optical bistable device can be viewed simultaneously. This results in a set of ‘operating curves’ which indicate how well an optical bistable device satisfies the requirements to perform a particular logic function. The operating curves may be used to find the optimum conditions to perform a function and they also show how resilient this point is in the presence of fluctuations in operating conditions.
This paper addresses the concept of active optical processing, in which signals are processed due to a nonlinear transfer function (light output as a function of light input). The particular active device considered here is a bistable optical device (BOD), which typically has transfer curves such as those shown in Fig. 1. Devices whici have transfer functions such as these can be used fc,-- signal enhancement, optical logic, memories, and switching. The aim of developing active optical processing is to achieve high speed all-optical operation, which is not limited by electron transit time considerations. An all-optical processor should have psec response times. In addition, the all-optical nature means freedom from emi, rfi, cross-talk and security, which are also characteristics of optical fibers.
When the output parameter of an optical device could be a multivalued function of the input parameter, this device can be working in an optical bistable status. The most typical optical bistable device is a Fabry–Perot cavity containing a nonlinear optical medium, the refractive index of which depends on the light intensity. Upon the action of an intense input optical beam, the transmitted (or reflected) intensity of this device may exhibit a nonlinear response to the incident light intensity variation and, especially under appropriate working conditions, the characteristic output/input curve may manifest a single (or multiple) hysteresis loop(s). Such type of optical bistable device can be used as an optical differential amplifier, optical switch, optical limiter, optical clipper, optical discriminator, or an optical memory element, depending on the chosen nonlinear medium and operation conditions.
We describe two approaches to low-energy switching and optical bistability. In one approach, which is a more fundamental approach, we use the nonlinearity associated with bound excitons in CdS to demonstrate the lowest total switching energy (4 pJ) of any optical device exhibiting two stable output states for the same input intensity.1 Bound excitons were chosen because they are known to have a very large oscillator strength (f = 7), a fast radiative decay (tspont = 500 ps), and they do not diffuse in the crystal, thus permitting a sharp focusing geometry. Furthermore, they are a good approximation to quantum dots. In a different experiment we have operated a standard diode laser structure below threshold and have demonstrated an efficient optical switch that can be used in thresholding and decision-making applications. The device switches with <400 aJ (4 × 10−16 J or <3000 photons) of optical energy incident on the device.2 During the switching operation, only 10 pJ of electrical power is dissipated. The switch operates at room temperature, is compatible with optical communication systems, and has a gain of the order of 15 dB, leading to the important properties of cascadability and large fan-out. The operation of a high contrast (5:1) AND gate was demonstrated.