A model of nonlinear all-optical switching in doped fibers

Author

Pantell, R.H. ; Digonnet, M.J.F.

Author_Institution

Edward L. Ginzton Lab., Stanford Univ., CA, USA

Volume

12

Issue

1

fYear

1994

fDate

1/1/1994 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

149

Lastpage

156

Abstract

A theoretical model of switches utilizing the resonantly enhanced nonlinearity present in doped fibers is presented. It establishes the dependence of the switching pump power, fiber length, residual resonant signal loss, and response time of the switch on the dopant spectroscopic parameters. Simple factors of merits are derived for the power and the length requirements and are evaluated for selected rare-earth transitions. The most promising candidates require only a fraction of a mW and a few cm of fiber for full switching. Similar power characteristics, but with considerably shorter response times (ns) and lengths (sub-mm), are predicted for dopants with a high oscillator strength transition, or a power-length product ten orders of magnitude smaller than for switches based on the Kerr effect in undoped silica fibers

Keywords

nonlinear optics; optical fibre theory; optical fibres; optical switches; dopant spectroscopic parameters; doped fibers; fiber length; full switching; high oscillator strength transition; length requirements; nonlinear all-optical switching; power characteristics; power-length product; rare-earth transitions; residual resonant signal loss; resonantly enhanced nonlinearity; response time; shorter response times; switching pump power; Delay; Fiber nonlinear optics; Optical fiber devices; Optical interferometry; Optical pumping; Optical refraction; Optical switches; Optical variables control; Oscillators; Resonance;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/50.265747

Filename

265747