G.D. Khoe

A fast low-power optical memory based on coupled micro-ring lasers

The increasing speed of fibre-optic-based telecommunications has focused attention on high-speed optical processing of digital information. Complex optical processing requires a high-density, high-speed, low-power optical memory that can be integrated with planar semiconductor technology for buffering of decisions and telecommunication data. Recently, ring lasers with extremely small size and low operating power have been made, and we demonstrate here a memory element constructed by interconnecting these microscopic lasers. Our device occupies an area of 18 × 40 µm2 on an InP/InGaAsP photonic integrated circuit, and switches within 20 ps with 5.5 fJ optical switching energy. Simulations show that the element has the potential for much smaller dimensions and switching times. Large numbers of such memory elements can be densely integrated and interconnected on a photonic integrated circuit: fast digital optical information processing systems employing large-scale integration should now be viable.

Nonlinear polarization rotation in semiconductor optical amplifiers: theory and application to all-optical flip-flop memories

We present a model for polarization-dependent gain saturation in strained bulk semiconductor optical amplifiers. We assume that the polarized optical field can be decomposed into transverse electric and transverse magnetic components that have indirect interaction with each other via the gain saturation. The gain anisotropy due to tensile strain in the amplifier is accounted for by a population imbalance factor. The model is applied to a nonlinear polarization switch, for which results are obtained, that are in excellent agreement with experimental data. Finally, we describe an all-optical flip-flop memory that is based on two coupled nonlinear polarization switches.

Error-Free 320-Gb/s All-Optical Wavelength Conversion Using a Single Semiconductor Optical Amplifier

We demonstrate error-free wavelength conversion at 320 Gb/s by employing a semiconductor optical amplifier that fully recovers in 56 ps. Error-free operation is achieved without using forward error correction technology. We employ optical filtering to select the blue sideband of the spectrum of the probe light, to utilize fast chirp dynamics introduced by the amplifier, and to overcome the slow gain recovery. This leads to an effective recovery time of less than 1.8 ps for the wavelength converter. The wavelength converter has a simple configuration and is implemented by using fiber-pigtailed components. The concept allows photonic integration

Error-free all-optical wavelength conversion at 160 gb/s using a semiconductor optical amplifier and an optical bandpass filter

Error-free and pattern-independent wavelength conversion at 160 Gb/s is demonstrated. The wavelength converter utilizes a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) with a recovery time greater than 90 ps and an optical bandpass filter (OBF) placed at the amplifier output. This paper shows that an OBF with a central wavelength that is blue shifted compared to the central wavelength of the converted signal shortens the recovery time of the wavelength converter to 3 ps. The wavelength converter is constructed by using commercially available fiber-pigtailed components. It has a simple configuration and allows photonic integration.

Wavelength conversion using nonlinear polarization rotation in a single semiconductor optical amplifier

We discuss an all-optical wavelength converter based on nonlinear polarization rotation in a single semiconductor optical amplifier. We show that inverted and noninverted wavelength conversion can be realized. We also demonstrate this wavelength-conversion concept can operate over a large wavelength range. Experiments show that error-free wavelength conversion can be obtained at a bit rate of 10 Gb/s.

Optical signal processing based on self-induced polarization rotation in a semiconductor optical amplifier

We demonstrate novel optical signal processing functions based on self-induced nonlinear polarization rotation in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). Numerical and experimental results are presented, which demonstrate that a nonlinear polarization switch can be employed to achieve all-optical logic. We demonstrate an all-optical header processing system, an all-optical seed pulse generator for packet synchronization, and an all-optical arbiter that can be employed for optical buffering at a bit rate of 10 Gb/s. Experimental results indicate that optical signal processing functions based on self-polarization rotation have a higher extinction ratio and a lower power operation compared with similar functions based on self-phase modulation.

All-optical demultiplexing of 640 to 40 Gbits/s using filtered chirp of a semiconductor optical amplifier

We present a high-capacity ultrafast all-optical time demultiplexer that can be employed to retrieve 40 gigabits/second (Gb/s) base-rate channels from a 640 Gb/s single-polarized signal. The demultiplexer utilizes ultrafast effects of filtered chirp of a semiconductor optical amplifier. Excellent demultiplexing performance is shown at very low switching powers: +8 dBm (640 Gb/s data) and -14 dBm (40 GHz clock). The demultiplexer has a simple structure and, in principle, allows monolithic integration.

All-optical logic based on ultrafast gain and index dynamics in a semiconductor optical amplifier

We investigate nonlinear carrier dynamics in a multiquantum-well semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) in the context of ultrafast all-optical logic. A rate-equation model is presented that accounts for two-photon absorption, free-carrier absorption, self- and cross phase modulation, carrier heating, spectral, spatial hole burning, and self- and cross polarization modulation. The nonlinear refractive index dynamics is investigated theoretically and experimentally. We find nonlinear phase changes larger than /spl pi/ radians, which recovers on a timescale in the order of 1 ps. We also investigate a nonlinear AND gate that consists of an SOA that is placed in an asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer. We show that the gate can be operated using 800-fJ optical pulses with duration of 200 fs while having a contrast ratio larger than 11 dB.

Nonlinear polarization rotation induced by ultrashort optical pulses in a semiconductor optical amplifier

We use a new rate-equation model for the propagation of sub-picosecond polarized optical pulses in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). This model is based on the decomposition of the polarized optical field into TE and TM components that interact via the gain saturation, and accounts for two-photon absorption, free-carrier absorption, self- and cross-phase modulation, carrier heating, and spectral and spatial hole burning. For the first time, using our model, we have obtained numerical results for the nonlinear polarization rotation in pump–probe experiments with 200 fs pulses. These results are in good agreement with reported experimental measurements.

SOA-based all-optical switch with subpicosecond full recovery

We investigate all-optical switching in a multi-quantum-well semiconductor optical amplifier-based nonlinear polarization switch using optical pulses with duration of 200 fs at a central wavelength of 1520 nm. We show full recovery of the switch within 600 fs, in both the gain and absorption regime. We discuss the switching and recovery mechanisms using numerical simulations that are in qualitatively good agreement with our experimental data.