Switch energy requirements for first- and second-order perturbations in asymmetric quantum box optical switches

Author

Palm, Thomas ; Thylén, Lars ; Nilsson, Olle ; Sahlén, Olof

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electron., R. Inst. of Technol., Stockholm, Sweden

Volume

33

Issue

4

fYear

1997

fDate

4/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

562

Lastpage

565

Abstract

We have studied the limits to the switching energy of electrically controlled optical absorption switches. Investigating a case with intraband transitions in asymmetric quantum boxes, it is shown that linear Stark shift allows switch energies of the optical switches that are comparable to the thermal noise limit at 300 K at least up to 30 GHz, provided boxes with very narrow absorption linewidth can be fabricated. This is several orders of magnitude lower energy than required by quadratic Stark shift in a similar, symmetric structure

Keywords

electro-optical modulation; electro-optical switches; quantum confined Stark effect; semiconductor quantum wells; 30 GHz; 300 K; absorption linewidth; asymmetric quantum box optical switches; asymmetric quantum boxes; electrically controlled optical absorption switches; first-order perturbations; intraband transitions; linear Stark shift; optical switches; quadratic Stark shift; second-order perturbations; switch energies; switch energy requirements; switching energy; symmetric structure; thermal noise limit; Absorption; Electron optics; High speed optical techniques; Optical computing; Optical control; Optical devices; Optical noise; Optical refraction; Optical switches; Optical variables control;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.563384

Filename

563384