Nonlinear pulse switching using XPM-induced frequency shift

Summary form only given. To date, the most established all-optical Kerr switches are based on the nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM) scheme. NOLM´s utilize the nonlinear phase shift (which should be precisely /spl pi/) imposed on a signal pulse by a control pulse, which can switch the state of interference between two parts of a signal pulse from constructive to destructive and vice versa. The interferometric nature of NOLM´s makes them sensitive to vibration, polarization and pump power fluctuations, and makes it difficult to achieve complete and undistorted switching. In this report, we suggest a new switching scheme which utilizes the nonlinear frequency shift in cross-phase modulation (XPM). The new scheme is free of all the above mentioned drawbacks because it does not rely on interference.