All-optical flip-flop operation based on bistability in V-cavity laser

Area of Science:

• Photonics
• Optical Computing
• Laser Physics

Background:

• All-optical memory is crucial for high-speed optical computing.
• Existing optical memory solutions often face challenges with speed, size, or power consumption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a novel all-optical flip-flop memory.
• To utilize a V-cavity laser (VCL) for bistable optical memory operations.
• To achieve fast and energy-efficient optical data storage.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical analysis and experimental demonstration of injection-locking.
• Utilizing the bistable region in the VCL tuning characteristics.
• Employing two different wavelengths for setting and resetting optical states.

Main Results:

• Successful implementation of an all-optical flip-flop memory.
• Demonstration of state setting and resetting using low-power (1 pJ) optical pulses.
• Achieved short response times of approximately 150 ps for storage and erasure.

Conclusions:

• The VCL is a viable platform for compact and efficient all-optical flip-flop memory.
• Injection-locking provides a robust mechanism for optical bistability and memory.
• The demonstrated device offers potential for future high-speed optical information processing.