Title :
Short-pulse generation in interferometers employing semiconductor optical amplifiers
Author :
Hill, Martin T. ; de Waardt, Huig ; Khoe, Giok-Djan ; Dorren, H.J.S.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng., Eindhoven Univ. of Technol., Netherlands
fDate :
7/1/2003 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Short light pulses can be generated by interferometer systems commonly used as all optical switches in telecommunication applications. The method of pulse generation does not involve lasing and transforms an optical square-wave input with slow rise times into a short-pulse train. A mathematical model for the system is developed. Conditions for correct operation of the system are derived from the model. Simulations illustrate the system operation. Furthermore, initial experiments are performed using a combination of fiber and free space optics. The experiments demonstrate the controllable pulse width and obtain pulsewidths of down to approximately 1 ps.
Keywords :
Mach-Zehnder interferometers; nonlinear optics; optical pulse compression; optical pulse generation; optical switches; semiconductor optical amplifiers; 1 ps; Mach Zehnder interferometer; all optical switches; controllable pulse width; fiber optics; free space optics; initial experiments; interferometers; mathematical model; optical square-wave input; semiconductor optical amplifiers; short light pulses; short-pulse generation; short-pulse train; simulations; slow rise times; system operation; telecommunication applications; Interferometers; Mathematical model; Optical interferometry; Optical pulse generation; Optical pulses; Optical switches; Pulse amplifiers; Semiconductor optical amplifiers; Space vector pulse width modulation; Stimulated emission;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
DOI :
10.1109/JQE.2003.813192