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IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics

Hybrid optical bistability and optical logic gates with avalanche heterojunction phototransistor and semiconductor laser diodes

Dong Jie, Huang Xiao-Kang, Sun Bao-Yin

Published Nov 1, 1987• 1 citation

Abstract

In this paper, we propose and demonstrate a new kind of optical bistable scheme which is based on an AHPT (avalanche heterojunction phototransistor) and an LD. The operating principles of the AHPT and the completed bistable devices are discussed in details. A simple assumption is made to simplify the analysis. When the AHPT-LD-BOD works in the steady state, it presents four operating modes, which are linear amplification, avalanche gain, optical bistability, as well as optoelectronic switching. When it is in the mode of the optical bistability, the critical triggering optical power is no more than 10 μW and the output power at ON state is larger than 1 mW. The ratio of the output optical power at ON state to that at OFF state is greater than 4 dB. Based on the good performance of the AHPT, we can realize five elementary optical logic gates, which are OR, AND, INVERTER, NOR, and NAND. The advantage of this kind of bistable system over the conventional ones is that neither external optical nor electrical feedback is needed. Therefore, it is possible and convenient to realize either monolithic or hybrid integration.

DOI: 10.1109/jqe.1987.1073269

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We present a review of optical bistability in active and passive optoelectronic devices, with particular reference to switching speeds and powers. The large resonant nonlinearities available near the bandgaps of semiconductors may be utilized to develop bistable devices operating at low powers and high speeds. Passive devices are driven by external optical sources and include nonlinear etalons, nonlinear interfaces, self-focusing configurations and electro-optic modulators with electrical feedback. Active devices include injection lasers and superluminescent amplifiers. Potential advantages of active devices include speed, gain, sensitivity and the ability to drive other devices, but complexity and high power dissipation may limit their use in applications requiring high density.

Optoelectronic hybrid bistability and multistability in an active interferometer using a laser diode are demonstrated experimentally. The active laser-diode interferometer is composed of a Twyman-Green interferometer with an electronic feedback circuit. By feeding back the interferometer output together with an external light input through a detector to control thelaser-diode injection current, the optical bistable and multistable states of the output power from the laser diode are observed. Bistable operation does not require cutoff or saturation in the amplifier. The theoretical background of the phenomena is discussed.

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.

The paper briefly reviews the major forms of optical bistability in active optical devices compatible for use in gigabit optical communication systems, and reports an entirely new optical bistability for the first time. Unlike previous devices, the two bistable states of the optical device are each a series of picosecond optical pulses at 1 GHz or greater repetition rates, and are distinguished by a half period temporal shift between their temporal positions in relation to a clock pulse. The bistable device is based on a gain switched semiconductor laser. Theoretical studies suggest 100-ps switching speeds might be achieved, and experimental results are reported indicating optically triggered switching times of 500 ps.