Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE

Optical bistability in hybrid AlAs/GaAs Bragg reflectors

Steffen Knigge, Stefan Zumkley, Georg Wingen, O. Humbach, Mircea Dragoman, Catherine Chaix, Dieter Jaeger

Published Jun 28, 1993• 6 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report about measurements of optical bistability in hybrid AlAs/GaAs Bragg reflectors. We have estimated an optical switching energy of 0.1 fJmicrometers -2, a switching intensity of about 1 Wcm-2, and an electro-optical modulation of 40% using a voltage swing of 60 V.
DOI
10.1117/12.147909

Related papers

High-Contrast Multiple Quantum-Well Optical Bistable Device with Integrated Bragg Reflectors

Bruno G. Sfez, J. L. Oudar, J. C. Michel +2 more

Monolithic bistable microcavities with a GaAs/Al0.3Ga0.7As multiple quantum well active layer and AlAs/Al0.1Ga0.9As Bragg reflectors have been fabricated by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. The design of the whole structure is such that a good cavity finesse and a high contrast in the reflective mode are simultaneously obtained. This results in a bistability power threshold of less than 3 mW at 838 nm and a contrast ratio as high as 30:1. A new method is proposed, which allows to measure the nonlinear refractive index in a quasi-continuous regime, and in the operating conditions for bistability. The nonlinear index is shown to saturate at higher power, which evidences the need of a good cavity finesse for such bistable devices. Memory effect is then demonstrated: the sample can stay in either of its two stable states for more than 1 ms without spontaneously switching, and for input pulses as short as 60 ns. Finally we describe two-beam experiments with a new experimental configuration, also in reflection, which allows to mix the two input beams and extract the output beam with an ideal 100% efficiency.

Nonlinear Dynamics in Optical Systems•Jan 1, 1990•0 citations

Bistability and Switching in a Rib Waveguide Resonator

Ulf Peschel, Dirk Michaelis, Thomas Peschel +1 more

Photonic data transmission and processing require highly efficient all-optical elements for signal amplification, switching and data storage. It could be shown experimentally that semiconductor planar resonators can be envisaged as promising candidates [1]. In particular, optical bistability, that has been shown to exist in these configurations, opens a wide field of applications. Because the operating frequencies are near the band gap of the direct semiconductors used the nonlinearities are giant. Hence the critical power for nonlinear effects to occur is fairly moderate. In view of these advantages it might be worthwhile to study such resonators in a waveguide scheme because it can be included into integrated optics configurations. In planar resonators one has not to worry about the absorption, being extremely large near the gap, because the overall thickness is only a few micrometers and they are usually operated in reflection. The situation appears more involved in waveguides. Usually one prefers to exploit the transmitted signal in order to separate input and output channels. Moreover the efficiency of the distributed Bragg reflectors, surrounding the cavity, is usually some orders of magnitude less than that of conventional planar mirrors requiring rather long reflectors. Because the cavity length exceeds that of planar resonators considerably too one has to guarantee that the overwhelming part of the resonator is essentially transparent for the guided mode. This has of course the consequence that it does not contribute to any resonant nonlinear effect. Hence we propose a resonator that is only loaded by a thin layer of nonlinear but absorbing material (GaAs) in the cavity region (see Fig.1).

Nonlinear Guided Waves and Their Applications•Jan 1, 1995•0 citations

Self-electro-optic bistability in hybrid silicon photonic microring resonators

Jiajiu Zheng, Dan Feng Guo, Arka Majumdar

We propose an on-chip self-electro-optic bistable device based on hybrid silicon microring resonators. The device enables bistability at low optical power with the switching energy of only ~5 fJ and can potentially operate at ~100 GHz.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 2017•0 citations

Hybrid Acousto-Optical Bistability in the Second-Order Bragg Regime

Mark D. McNeill, Ting‐Chung Poon

Over the past decade, research with acoustooptic hybrid bistable devices has been primarily concerned with operation in the first Bragg regime involving two to four diffracted orders. In this paper, a model that includes both acoustooptic diffraction and nonlinear feedback will be used to investigate optical bistability in the second Bragg regime. In addition, theoretical simulations will be used to compare this system with an identical system operating in the first Bragg regime. Theoretical and experimental results will be presented.

Southeastern Symposium on System Theory (SSST)•Aug 24, 2005•1 citation

High-speed electro-optical switching in an InGaAsP/InP quantum well nanostructure

Mostafa Sahrai, Solmaz Ebadollahi-Bakhtevar, H. Tajalli +1 more

An InGaAsP/InP quantum well nanostructure sandwiched by distributed Bragg reflector mirrors (DBR) is employed as a high-speed optical switch based on optical bistability.The switching time between two stable states of bistable curve is estimated about 50 ps.We prove that OB/OM can be achieved just by the appropriate choice of laser intensities, tunneling rate, and detuning of coupling laser field.Moreover, we show that the superluminal light propagation can be obtained in this system by adjusting the tunneling rate.As a consequence, the proposed model can also be applied in rapid telecommunication.

Materials Research Express•Aug 23, 2018•2 citations

Optical bistable switching in Fabry-Perot interferometer with bulk heavily doped GaAs active layer

George V. Sinitsyn, Ilya A. Utkin

Dynamic behavior of the nonlinear Fabry-Perot interferometer with heavily doped n-GaAs internal layer under 20 ns laser pulses excitation has been studied. Optical bistability with less than 10 ns switch-OFF time has been demonstrated.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Mar 2, 2006•0 citations
Monolithic bistable microcavities with a GaAs/Al0.3Ga0.7As multiple quantum well active layer and AlAs/Al0.1Ga0.9As Bragg reflectors have been fabricated by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. The design of the whole structure is such that a good cavity finesse and a high contrast in the reflective mode are simultaneously obtained. This results in a bistability power threshold of less than 3 mW at 838 nm and a contrast ratio as high as 30:1. A new method is proposed, which allows to measure the nonlinear refractive index in a quasi-continuous regime, and in the operating conditions for bistability. The nonlinear index is shown to saturate at higher power, which evidences the need of a good cavity finesse for such bistable devices. Memory effect is then demonstrated: the sample can stay in either of its two stable states for more than 1 ms without spontaneously switching, and for input pulses as short as 60 ns. Finally we describe two-beam experiments with a new experimental configuration, also in reflection, which allows to mix the two input beams and extract the output beam with an ideal 100% efficiency.
Photonic data transmission and processing require highly efficient all-optical elements for signal amplification, switching and data storage. It could be shown experimentally that semiconductor planar resonators can be envisaged as promising candidates [1]. In particular, optical bistability, that has been shown to exist in these configurations, opens a wide field of applications. Because the operating frequencies are near the band gap of the direct semiconductors used the nonlinearities are giant. Hence the critical power for nonlinear effects to occur is fairly moderate. In view of these advantages it might be worthwhile to study such resonators in a waveguide scheme because it can be included into integrated optics configurations. In planar resonators one has not to worry about the absorption, being extremely large near the gap, because the overall thickness is only a few micrometers and they are usually operated in reflection. The situation appears more involved in waveguides. Usually one prefers to exploit the transmitted signal in order to separate input and output channels. Moreover the efficiency of the distributed Bragg reflectors, surrounding the cavity, is usually some orders of magnitude less than that of conventional planar mirrors requiring rather long reflectors. Because the cavity length exceeds that of planar resonators considerably too one has to guarantee that the overwhelming part of the resonator is essentially transparent for the guided mode. This has of course the consequence that it does not contribute to any resonant nonlinear effect. Hence we propose a resonator that is only loaded by a thin layer of nonlinear but absorbing material (GaAs) in the cavity region (see Fig.1).
Over the past decade, research with acoustooptic hybrid bistable devices has been primarily concerned with operation in the first Bragg regime involving two to four diffracted orders. In this paper, a model that includes both acoustooptic diffraction and nonlinear feedback will be used to investigate optical bistability in the second Bragg regime. In addition, theoretical simulations will be used to compare this system with an identical system operating in the first Bragg regime. Theoretical and experimental results will be presented.
An InGaAsP/InP quantum well nanostructure sandwiched by distributed Bragg reflector mirrors (DBR) is employed as a high-speed optical switch based on optical bistability.The switching time between two stable states of bistable curve is estimated about 50 ps.We prove that OB/OM can be achieved just by the appropriate choice of laser intensities, tunneling rate, and detuning of coupling laser field.Moreover, we show that the superluminal light propagation can be obtained in this system by adjusting the tunneling rate.As a consequence, the proposed model can also be applied in rapid telecommunication.