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Applied Physics Letters

All-optical bistable switching and signal regeneration in a semiconductor layered distributed-feedback/Fabry–Perot structure

Jian‐Jun He, Michael Čada, M.‐A. Dupertuis, Denis Martin, François Morier-Genoud, Claude R. Rolland, Anthony J. SpringThorpe

Published Aug 16, 1993• 31 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report the experimental observation of optical bistable switching in a combined distributed-feedback/Fabry–Perot structure. The sample had a high switching contrast with almost zero reflectivity in the on-state. A turnoff time as short as 4 ns was measured. The threshold power for bistability was about 2 mW. Bistable switching with the memory effect and a potential application for all-optical signal regeneration were demonstrated.

DOI
10.1063/1.109883

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Antonio Hurtado, Ana Pilar Gonzalez-Marcos, José A. Martín-Pereda +1 more

Switching of a signal beam by another control beam at different wavelength is demonstrated experimentally using the optical bistability occurring in a 1.55 µm-distributed feedback semiconductor optical amplifier (DFBSOA) working in reflection. Counterclockwise (S-shaped) and reverse (clockwise) bistability are observed in the output of the control and the signal beam respectively, as the power of the input control signal is increased. With this technique an optical signal can be set in either of the optical input wavelengths by appropriate choice of the powers of the input signals. The switching properties of the DFBSOA are studied experimentally as the applied bias current is increased from below to above threshold and for different levels of optical power in the signal beam and different wavelength detunings between both input signals. Higher on-off extinction ratios, wider bistable loops and lower input power requirements for switching are obtained when the DFBSOA is operated slightly above its threshold value.

IEE Proceedings - Optoelectronics•Jan 25, 2006•20 citations
We report the experimental observation of optical bistable switching in a combined distributed-feedback/Fabry–Perot structure. The sample had a high switching contrast with almost zero reflectivity in the on-state. A turnoff time as short as 4 ns was measured. The threshold power for bistability was about 2 mW. Bistable switching with the memory effect and a potential application for all-optical signal regeneration were demonstrated.
In all-optical switching systems bistable distributed-feedback (DFB) amplifiers are being used experimentally as memory cells and signal regenerators. In this frame a single section DFB amplifier (with one AR coated facet) operating around threshold at 1549 nm is pumped by a similar laser with a carefully controlled frequency detuning. The polarization controlled pump beam is modulated by a Mach-Zehnder switch (2.5 GHz bandwidth) to avoid source frequency chirp. The measurement of a pump reference and of the beam reflected from the amplifier is performed through a fiber directional coupler inserted between the two DFB diodes. Optical bistability has been observed both in transmission and in reflection for a sinewave modulated input in the 1-200 MHz frequency range. The output square wave exhibits up and down switching times lower than 1 ns and about 2 ns, respectively. The latter figure is consistent with the carrier recombination time in InGaAsP active structures, which is the main limit to the recovery time of bistable amplifiers. Work is in progress to investigate this feature in other types of amplifiers (e.g., multisection DFBs and quantum well structures).
Optical bistable elements may be attractive in all-optical regenerators as an alternative to electronic regenerators1 provided they are able to handle signals with bit rates in the Gbit/s range. The bistable Fabry-Perot (F.P.) laser amplifier has many desirable properties, e.g., optical gain, room temperature operation,, and low switching energy (fJ).2 Bistability at up to 250 Mbit/s has been predicted for antireflection coated laser amplifiers.1 Here we report measurements of switching times of ~1 ns for a 1.3-μm F.P. laser amplifier, which are verified numerically. For antireflection coated amplifiers, switching times of 230-250 ps, suggesting transmission rates of up to ~2 Gbit/s, are predicted.
Switching of a signal beam by another control beam at different wavelength is demonstrated experimentally using the optical bistability occurring in a 1.55 µm-distributed feedback semiconductor optical amplifier (DFBSOA) working in reflection. Counterclockwise (S-shaped) and reverse (clockwise) bistability are observed in the output of the control and the signal beam respectively, as the power of the input control signal is increased. With this technique an optical signal can be set in either of the optical input wavelengths by appropriate choice of the powers of the input signals. The switching properties of the DFBSOA are studied experimentally as the applied bias current is increased from below to above threshold and for different levels of optical power in the signal beam and different wavelength detunings between both input signals. Higher on-off extinction ratios, wider bistable loops and lower input power requirements for switching are obtained when the DFBSOA is operated slightly above its threshold value.