Title :
Impact of gain saturation on size limitations of semiconductor laser amplifier (SLA) based switching structures
Author :
Yao, J. ; O´Mahony, M.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electron. Syst. Eng., Essex Univ., Colchester, UK
Abstract :
Size limitations of optical switching structures employing semiconductor laser amplifiers arising from signal extinction ratio, amplifier gain, and optical filter bandwidth are investigated theoretically and experimentally. Simulations reveal that the maximum number of SLA that can be cascaded in an optical switching structure increases with increasing input signal extinction ratio, optical gain of each SLA and decreases with increasing SLA noise figure, optical filter bandwidth and input signal bit rate.<>
Keywords :
laser noise; laser theory; optical filters; optical saturation; optical switches; semiconductor device models; semiconductor lasers; semiconductor switches; simulation; SLA noise figure; amplifier gain; gain saturation; input signal bit rate; input signal extinction ratio; optical filter bandwidth; optical gain; optical switching structure; optical switching structures; semiconductor laser amplifier based switching structures; signal extinction ratio; simulations; size limitations; Bandwidth; Extinction ratio; Laser theory; Optical filters; Optical noise; Optical saturation; Quantum cascade lasers; Semiconductor lasers; Semiconductor optical amplifiers; Stimulated emission;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
