Ultrafast switching dynamics of Mach-Zehnder interferometer switches

Author

Schreieck, Roland ; Kwakernaak, Martin ; Jäckel, Heinz ; Gamper, Emil ; Gini, Emilio ; Vogt, Werner ; Melchior, Hans

Author_Institution

Electron. Lab., Swiss Federal Inst. of Technol., Zurich, Switzerland

Volume

13

Issue

6

fYear

2001

fDate

6/1/2001 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

603

Lastpage

605

Abstract

We present results of cross-gain and cross-phase modulation experiments on InGaAsP-based semiconductor optical amplifiers and Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) switches. For 150-fs input pulses, we observe strong spectral and pulse shape distortions of the signal pulse, especially in the pulse overlap regime. These pulse deteriorations are induced by subpicosecond gain and refractive index nonlinearities. In consequence, the ON-OFF ratio of the MZI switch is drastically reduced for subpicosecond switching windows. In the copropagation arrangement, the switching window with maximum transmission is shown to be limited to about 1.5 ps.

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; Mach-Zehnder interferometers; gallium arsenide; high-speed optical techniques; indium compounds; optical communication equipment; optical modulation; optical switches; semiconductor optical amplifiers; InGaAsP; InGaAsP-based semiconductor optical amplifiers; MZI switches; Mach-Zehnder interferometer switches; ON-OFF ratio; copropagation arrangement; cross-gain modulation experiments; cross-phase modulation experiments; pulse overlap regime; pulse shape distortions; refractive index nonlinearities; signal pulse; spectral distortions; subpicosecond gain; subpicosecond switching; ultrafast switching dynamics; Delay; Optical interferometry; Optical pulse shaping; Optical switches; Probes; Pulse amplifiers; Pulse measurements; Pulse shaping methods; Semiconductor optical amplifiers; Telecommunication switching;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/68.924036

Filename

924036