DocumentCode :
1289325
Title :
All-optical bistable switching dynamics in 1.55-μm two-segment strained multiquantum-well distributed-feedback lasers
Author :
Zhou, Jianying ; Cada, Michael ; Makino, Toshihiko
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng., Tech. Univ. Nova Scotia, Halifax, NS, Canada
Volume :
15
Issue :
2
fYear :
1997
fDate :
2/1/1997 12:00:00 AM
Firstpage :
342
Lastpage :
355
Abstract :
All-optical bistable switching dynamics of 1.55-μm two-segment strained multiquantum-well (MQW) distributed-feedback (DFB) lasers were systematically studied both experimentally and theoretically. Some fundamental optical functionalities, including all-optical set-reset (flip-flop) operations, were demonstrated. The switching responses of these bistable lasers were studied, for the first time, with optical injection from a single-mode DFB laser, indicating that the switching dynamics based on gain quenching and absorption saturation are inherently different. A theoretical model including optical injection was developed to study these all-optical bistable switching characteristics in segmented bistable lasers. It was found that the nonuniform distribution of the photon density in the bistable laser cavity induced by optical injection was essential to perform the time-domain switching operations. Simulations showed a good agreement with experimental observations and indicated design improvements. Although the switching responses in the range of tens of picoseconds can be obtained with these bistable lasers, the maximum repetition frequency of the bistable systems would still be limited to the hundreds of megahertz due to the slow carrier recovery time (5 ns) of the lasers
Keywords :
distributed feedback lasers; electro-optical switches; flip-flops; infrared sources; laser theory; laser transitions; optical bistability; optical saturable absorption; quantum well lasers; semiconductor device models; μm two-segment strained multiquantum-well distributed-feedback lasers; 1.55 mum; MQW DFB lasers; absorption saturation; all-optical bistable switching characteristics; all-optical bistable switching dynamics; all-optical set-reset flip-flop operations; bistable laser cavity; bistable lasers; fundamental optical functionalities; gain quenching; indicated design improvements; maximum repetition frequency; nonuniform distribution; optical injection; photon density; segmented bistable lasers; single-mode DFB laser; slow carrier recovery time; switching dynamics; switching responses; theoretical model; time-domain switching operations; Absorption; Laser modes; Laser theory; Optical bistability; Optical devices; Optical fiber networks; Optical pumping; Optical saturation; Optical signal processing; Optical wavelength conversion;
fLanguage :
English
Journal_Title :
Lightwave Technology, Journal of
Publisher :
ieee
ISSN :
0733-8724
Type :
jour
DOI :
10.1109/50.554387
Filename :
554387
Link To Document :
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