Wavelength conversion by cross-absorption modulation using an integrated electroabsorption modulator/laser

Summary form only given. We investigate a new technique to perform wavelength conversion, cross-absorption modulation (XAM), where a modulated pump signal is used to change the absorption of a modulator so that the output of a DC probe signal is also modulated, and non-inverted wavelength conversion from the pump wavelength to the probe wavelength is achieved. High-speed wavelength conversion at 20 Gb/s over 30 nm has been reported only recently using this technique in a single electroabsorption (EA) modulator. Here, we use an integrated multiple-quantum-well electroabsorption modulator/laser (EML), where the laser section acts as the probe, and the modulator is used as the cross-absorption medium. The EML has the advantages of better coupling between probe signal and modulator and requires less components than the single modulator configuration. We study the physical mechanisms behind XAM by investigating dependencies on pump wavelength and modulator voltage.