Investigation of all-optical latching operation of a monolithically integrated SOA-MZI with a feedback loop

We have investigated an all-optical set/reset and latching operation using a monolithically integrated InP-based semiconductor optical amplifier type Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a feedback loop. In simulation, operation conditions when both set and reset are possible was estimated for input light pulse with a FWHM of 31 and 12.5 ps, and the tolerance of the CW probe light and feedback loop loss becomes large with increasing the input light pulse power. In addition, the loop length could be longer than the distance of the light propagating in one bit pulse because of the longer carrier recovery time than one bit time duration. Moreover, we successfully achieved set/reset operation with 34- and 18-ps wide set/reset pulses.