Nonlinear InGaAs-InGaAsP single-quantum-well all-optical switch-theory and experiments

Author

Gontijo, Ivair ; Neilson, David T. ; Walker, Andy C. ; Kennedy, G.T. ; Sibbett, W.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Phys., Heriot-Watt Univ., Edinburgh, UK

Volume

32

Issue

12

fYear

1996

fDate

12/1/1996 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2112

Lastpage

2121

Abstract

A detailed theory for the operation of a guided wave all-optical switch is presented and compared with experimental results. The switch exploits the two polarization-dependent band-edges of an InGaAs-InGaAsP single-quantum-well embedded in an InP waveguide and the dependence of refractive index on carrier density. This semiconductor all-optical nonlinear dichroic (SAND) device is potentially capable of operating at repetition rates up to ~50 GHz. The model which has been developed agrees well with the experiments and has been used to determine the optimum design and operating conditions for the device. In particular, it predicts that a gain of 23, with 54% modulation depth, should be achievable in realistic experimental conditions

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; carrier density; dichroism; gallium arsenide; gallium compounds; indium compounds; light polarisation; optical modulation; optical switches; optical waveguides; semiconductor device models; semiconductor quantum wells; InGaAs-InGaAsP; InGaAs-InGaAsP single-quantum-well; InGaAs-InGaAsP single-quantum-well all-optical switch-theory; InP waveguide; SAND; carrier density; guided wave all-optical switch; modulation depth; nonlinear switching theory; operating conditions; optimum design; polarization-dependent band-edges; refractive index; repetition rates; semiconductor all-optical nonlinear dichroic; Fiber lasers; Nonlinear optics; Optical fibers; Optical modulation; Optical pulses; Optical switches; Polarization; Pulse amplifiers; Refractive index; Semiconductor optical amplifiers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.544757

Filename

544757