Optical transistor and bistability (A)

Stanley Desmond Smith, David A. B. Miller

Yosia Yosia, Yoichi Akano, Kazuhiko Tamura +2 more

We demonstrated all-optical transistor operation based on the bistability principle in nonlinear distributed feedback GaInAsP-InP waveguide. By increasing the pump power above a certain limit, the probe transmission that operates in the bistable regime can turn from switching to transistor mode. The unstable state is shown to play a crucial role in distinguishing the probe transmission artifacts between switching and transistor mode.

Yosia Yosia, Yoichi Akano, Kazuhiko Tamura +2 more

All-optical transistor based on bistability principle in nonlinear DFB GaInAsP-InP waveguide was demonstrated experimentally. The unstable state is shown to play a crucial role in distinguishing probe transmission transient artifacts between switching and transistor mode.

Frank A. P. Tooley

Milton Feng, N. Holonyak, C. Y. Wang

Optical bistable devices are fundamental to digital photonics as building blocks of switches, logic gates, and memories in future computer systems. Here, we demonstrate both optical and electrical bistability and capability for switching in a single transistor operated at room temperature. The electro-optical hysteresis is explained by the interaction of electron-hole (e-h) generation and recombination dynamics with the cavity photon modulation in different switching paths. The switch-UP and switch-DOWN threshold voltages are determined by the rate difference of photon generation at the base quantum-well and the photon absorption via intra-cavity photon-assisted tunneling controlled by the collector voltage. Thus, the transistor laser electro-optical bistable switching is programmable with base current and collector voltage, and the basis for high speed optical logic processors.