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IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics

Operation of an all-optical bistable device dependent upon incident and transmitted optical power

Ralph S. Jameson, Wen-Tserr-Lee

Published Jan 1, 1989• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The authors describe the optically bistable operation of an all-optical nonlinear Fabry-Perot etalon (NLFP) in which the power-dependent cavity phase shift has a contribution dependent on the power incident on the cavity. When the contributions have the same parity, the optically-bistable behavior is essentially the same as that seen in the now standard bistable NLFP (counterclockwise hysteresis in transmission). For opposite parity there is a range of relative strengths for which bistable operation cannot be obtained, but, outside of that range, bistable behavior having clockwise hysteresis in transmission is possible. This latter bistable behavior is demonstrated, with the NLFP being a GaAlAs laser diode amplifier driven by a similar diode laser. Low-frequency modulation of the laser power by direct variation of the laser drive current produced a small shift in laser wavelength proportional to the laser power, providing the cavity phase shift term proportional to the incident power, while the nonlinear refractive index of the NLFP provided the phase shift proportional to the transmitted power.>

DOI
10.1109/3.16255

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In this letter we describe and demonstrate the optically bistable operation of an all-optical nonlinear Fabry-Perot etalon (NLFP) in which the power-dependent cavity phase shift has a contri- bution dependent upon the internal cavity power and a contribution directly dependent upon the power incident on the cavity. When the contributions have the same parity, the optically-bistable behavior is essentially the same as that seen in the now standard bistable NLFP (counterclockwise hysteresis in transmission). For opposite parity there is a range of relative strengths for which bistable operation cannot be obtained, but outside of that range bistable behavior having clockwise hysteresis in transmission is possible. We present a demonstration of this latter bistable behavior in which the NLFP was a GaAlAs laser diode amplifier driven by a similar diode laser. Low-frequency mod- ulation of the laser power by direct variation of the laser drive current produced a small shift in laser wavelength proportional to the laser power, providing the cavity phase shift term proportional to the inci- dent power, while the nonlinear refractive index of the NLFP provided the phase shift proportional to the transmitted power.

•Jan 1, 1989•0 citations

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Bistable laser amplifiers are attractive for potential application in optical switching because of very low input optical requirement, high extinction ratio and the presence of optical gain. Optical bistability (OB) arises from gain saturation and the associated nonlinear refraction combined with the effect of feedback in the laser cavity. We present the experimental results of bistable characteristics for the case of a 1.55 /spl mu/m symmetric Fabry-Perot (F-P) laser amplifier with uncoated facets. This paper reports a particularly rich variety of behaviour for reflected signals. Three main forms of hysteresis loops are observed on reflection. The hysteresis loop changes from anticlockwise to clockwise hysteresis in the optical input-output characteristic when the drive current or initial phase detuning is changed. The butterfly hysteresis loop is observed experimentally at optical input power as low as 260 /spl mu/W for a drive current equal to 90% of the lasing threshold. The dependence of the optical bistability on drive current, initial phase detuning and injected optical power has been investigated. In the bistable light output-initial phase detuning characteristic, the optimum frequency is shifted downward with an increase in the injected power or the drive current. All measurements are in good agreement with an analytical model.

•Jan 1, 1998•0 citations
The authors describe the optically bistable operation of an all-optical nonlinear Fabry-Perot etalon (NLFP) in which the power-dependent cavity phase shift has a contribution dependent on the power incident on the cavity. When the contributions have the same parity, the optically-bistable behavior is essentially the same as that seen in the now standard bistable NLFP (counterclockwise hysteresis in transmission). For opposite parity there is a range of relative strengths for which bistable operation cannot be obtained, but, outside of that range, bistable behavior having clockwise hysteresis in transmission is possible. This latter bistable behavior is demonstrated, with the NLFP being a GaAlAs laser diode amplifier driven by a similar diode laser. Low-frequency modulation of the laser power by direct variation of the laser drive current produced a small shift in laser wavelength proportional to the laser power, providing the cavity phase shift term proportional to the incident power, while the nonlinear refractive index of the NLFP provided the phase shift proportional to the transmitted power.>
In this letter we describe and demonstrate the optically bistable operation of an all-optical nonlinear Fabry-Perot etalon (NLFP) in which the power-dependent cavity phase shift has a contri- bution dependent upon the internal cavity power and a contribution directly dependent upon the power incident on the cavity. When the contributions have the same parity, the optically-bistable behavior is essentially the same as that seen in the now standard bistable NLFP (counterclockwise hysteresis in transmission). For opposite parity there is a range of relative strengths for which bistable operation cannot be obtained, but outside of that range bistable behavior having clockwise hysteresis in transmission is possible. We present a demonstration of this latter bistable behavior in which the NLFP was a GaAlAs laser diode amplifier driven by a similar diode laser. Low-frequency mod- ulation of the laser power by direct variation of the laser drive current produced a small shift in laser wavelength proportional to the laser power, providing the cavity phase shift term proportional to the inci- dent power, while the nonlinear refractive index of the NLFP provided the phase shift proportional to the transmitted power.
We present what is to our knowledge the first study of optical bistability in Fabry-Perot laser-diode amplifiers that have asymmetric facet reflectivities. When operated in reflection, the light input-light output characteristics exhibit a transition from counterclockwise to clockwise hysteresis by way of an X-shaped or butterfly hysteresis. This transition can be achieved by a change in either the device bias or the phase detuning of the incident light. Our results are in good agreement with calculation.
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.
Bistable laser amplifiers are attractive for potential application in optical switching because of very low input optical requirement, high extinction ratio and the presence of optical gain. Optical bistability (OB) arises from gain saturation and the associated nonlinear refraction combined with the effect of feedback in the laser cavity. We present the experimental results of bistable characteristics for the case of a 1.55 /spl mu/m symmetric Fabry-Perot (F-P) laser amplifier with uncoated facets. This paper reports a particularly rich variety of behaviour for reflected signals. Three main forms of hysteresis loops are observed on reflection. The hysteresis loop changes from anticlockwise to clockwise hysteresis in the optical input-output characteristic when the drive current or initial phase detuning is changed. The butterfly hysteresis loop is observed experimentally at optical input power as low as 260 /spl mu/W for a drive current equal to 90% of the lasing threshold. The dependence of the optical bistability on drive current, initial phase detuning and injected optical power has been investigated. In the bistable light output-initial phase detuning characteristic, the optimum frequency is shifted downward with an increase in the injected power or the drive current. All measurements are in good agreement with an analytical model.