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Japanese Journal of Applied Physics

All-Optical Switching with a Weak Control Signal in a Nonlinear Interferometer

Je‐Myung Jeong

Published Sep 15, 2002• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

We propose and study all-optical probe switching using a control signal in a nonlinear interferometer configuration. In our proposed device, we can have a power- or a phase-controlled switching function with a control signal that is much weaker than the probe signal. Since the control signal and the probe have the same wavelengths and polarizations, the pulse walk-off associated with the dispersion does not take place, and thus the speed of operation is not limited by dispersion. We have experimentally demonstrated power-controlled switching with a control signal whose power is 10 times weaker than the probe power.

DOI
10.1143/jjap.41.5581

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We propose and study all-optical probe switching using a control signal in a nonlinear interferometer configuration. In our proposed device, we can have a power- or a phase-controlled switching function with a control signal that is much weaker than the probe signal. Since the control signal and the probe have the same wavelengths and polarizations, the pulse walk-off associated with the dispersion does not take place, and thus the speed of operation is not limited by dispersion. We have experimentally demonstrated power-controlled switching with a control signal whose power is 10 times weaker than the probe power.
In a search for all-optical signal processing elements operating at a picosecond time scale nonlinear phenomena in quadratic media, extensively studied since many years in a different context were revisited lately. However, all devices proposed and implemented to date (see [1,2] and Refs, therein) have certain drawbacks complicating their use as all-optical amplifying/switching devices, viz., low amplification because of a strong control signal in intensity-controlled devices, smooth switching characteristics of Mach-Zehnder interferometers, and a requirement of fast phase control in phase-sensitive devices [3]. A key requirement of all devices proposed until now is the coherence of pump and signal beams because the χ(2)-process strongly depends on the relative phase. Here we demonstrate that this phase-insensitive amplification/switching can be achieved by a three wave interaction even with reduced pump power requirements. In what follows we focus on the so-called vectorial or type II SHG where two orthogonally polarized fundamental frequency (FF) components A1 and A2 interact with the only second harmonic (SH) wave B polarized parallel to one of the fundamentals [2].
One of the major challenges in realizing practical all-optical switching devices is the need for strong and fast material nonlinearity. The use of resonance-enhanced nonlinear effects in optical cavities has been explored as a promising way to lower the switching power. This paper provides numerically investigation of resonator-enhanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer all-optical switch by employing a nonlinear ratio-variable coupler with the merits of easy fabrication and excellent nonlinear optical controllability. This performs nonlinear optical switching with advantages of hundreds tW low switching threshold, steady switch ON/OFF states and a wide wavelength range by combining the high nonlinearity of ring and adjustable coupling ratio of RVC. Resonator finesse is controllable by incident power with potential applications in controllable photonic devices. Some undesirable effects involving attenuation, group delay and partial coherence lead to increase of switching power and low extinction ratio. Optical bistability and instability do not limit practical applications in optical switch. A desired tradeoff between response time and switching power can be achieved by controlling finesse. Picosecond ultrafast all-optical switch is predicted.
A novel concept for an all-optical transistor is proposed and verified numerically. This concept relies on cross-phase modulation between a signal and a control pulse. Other than previous approaches, the interaction length is extended by temporally locking control and the signal pulse in an optical event horizon, enabling continuous modification of the central wavelength, energy, and duration of a signal pulse by an up to sevenfold weaker control pulse. Moreover, if the signal pulse is a soliton it may maintain its solitonic properties during the switching process. The proposed all-optical switching concept fulfills all criteria for a useful optical transistor in [Nat. Photon. 4, 3 (2010)], in particular, fan-out and cascadability, which have previously proven as the most difficult to meet.
An optical switching device may be defined as one that either diverts an optical beam from its path or that may be used as a source for optical modulation. An optical modulator would be used to modulate an optical signal, for example, to encode a digital signal onto a light beam. An optical switching device may be fabricated as a discrete component or incorporated into an optical waveguide. It must, ideally, consume low power and be operable at a comparatively low optical power level and high bandwidth. An optical switching device may be fabricated as a discrete component or incorporated into an optical waveguide. It must, ideally, consume low power and be operable at a comparatively low optical power level and high bandwidth. An ideal material for practical optical bistable applications is one which has a large nonlinearity and a relatively low absorption at the wavelength of interest, as this is the optimum condition for dispersive effects.