All-Optical Flip-Flop Based on an SOA/DFB-Laser Diode Optical Feedback Scheme

Author

D´Oosterlinck, W. ; Buron, J. ; Öhman, F. ; Morthier, G. ; Baets, R.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Inf. Technol., Ghent Univ, Gent

Volume

19

Issue

7

fYear

2007

fDate

4/1/2007 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

489

Lastpage

491

Abstract

We report on the dynamic all-optical flip-flop (AOFF) operation of an optical feedback scheme consisting of a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and a distributed feedback laser diode (DFB-LD), bidirectionally coupled to each other. The operation of the AOFF relies on the interplay between the optical powers in both the DFB-LD and the SOA. Switching times as low as 150ps for switch pulse energies of around 6 pJ and a repetition rate of 500MHz have been measured. The contrast ratio was measured to be above 12 dB

Keywords

distributed feedback lasers; flip-flops; laser feedback; optical bistability; optical switches; semiconductor optical amplifiers; 500 MHz; 6 pJ; all-optical flip-flop operation; bidirectional coupling; diode optical feedback; distributed feedback laser; semiconductor optical amplifier; static bistable laser operation; Diode lasers; Distributed feedback devices; Flip-flops; Optical coupling; Optical feedback; Power semiconductor switches; Pulse measurements; Semiconductor diodes; Semiconductor optical amplifiers; Stimulated emission; Optical bistability; optical signal processing; semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs);

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LPT.2007.893756

Filename

4126556