Short-pulse controlled optical switch using external cavity based single mode Fabry-Pérot laser diode.

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Optical Engineering
• Semiconductor Devices
• Optical Communications

Background:

• All-optical switches are crucial for high-speed optical networks.
• Single Mode Fabry-Pérot Laser Diodes (SMFP-LDs) offer unique optical bistability properties.
• External cavity designs can enhance laser diode performance for switching applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and demonstrate a novel all-optical switch controlled by short pulses.
• To utilize the optical bistability and injection locking properties of SMFP-LDs for switching.
• To analyze performance metrics like hysteresis, switching time, and bit error rate.

Main Methods:

• The proposed scheme employs an external cavity based SMFP-LD.
• A control unit leverages optical bistability, and a switching unit uses injection locking.
• Analysis of wavelength detuning and optical power effects on performance parameters.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated switching of 10 Gb/s Non-Return-to-Zero (NRZ) signals.
• Achieved an extinction ratio of approximately 11 dB and fast switching times (30-40 ps).
• Observed a low Bit Error Rate (BER) below 10⁻¹² with a minimal power penalty of 1.7 dB at 10⁻⁹.

Conclusions:

• The proposed SMFP-LD based all-optical switch shows excellent performance for short pulse control.
• The design offers a wide input dynamic power range and high ON/OFF contrast ratio.
• This technology is promising for future high-speed optical communication systems.