Title:
NON-LINEAR SEMICONDUCTOR OPTICAL DEVICE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO1994006054
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A non-linear semiconductor optical device (3) comprises an active waveguide with a multiple quantum well construction in the active region. The device (3) is supplied with a drive current at the material transparency current with respect to an optical pump. An optical non-linearity appears with respect to input radiation having a wavelength below that of the bandgap equivalent wavelength of the active region ((lambda)<(lambda)g), the effect being achieved at relatively low optical input powers. The non-linearity is fast enough that a switching device incorporating the invention, in use as a demultiplexer, has potential to be used at bit rates approaching the Tbit/s range. In a demultiplexer embodiment, the non-linearity may be exploited in a directional coupler (40), an optical pump being used intermittently to control cross-over of an incoming TDM data signal so as to "pick off" a selected channel. Other applications include optical logic devices.
More Like This:
Inventors:
FISHER MICHAEL ANDREJA (GB)
Application Number:
PCT/GB1993/001897
Publication Date:
March 17, 1994
Filing Date:
September 08, 1993
Export Citation:
Assignee:
BRITISH TELECOMM (GB)
FISHER MICHAEL ANDREJA (GB)
FISHER MICHAEL ANDREJA (GB)
International Classes:
G02F1/017; G02F1/35; G02F1/355; G02F2/00; G02F1/225; G02F1/313; G02F3/00; G02F3/02; (IPC1-7): G02F1/35
Foreign References:
| EP0456422A2 | 1991-11-13 |
Other References:
M. A. FISHER ET AL: "Ultrafast nonlinear refraction in an active MQW waveguide", ELECTRONICS LETTERS., vol. 29, no. 13, June 1993 (1993-06-01), STEVENAGE GB, pages 1185 - 1186, XP000378397
R.S. GRANT ET AL.: "Observation of ultrafst nonlinear refraction in an InGaAsP optical amplifier", APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS., vol. 58, no. 11, March 1991 (1991-03-01), NEW YORK US, pages 1119 - 1121, XP000209764
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 9, no. 259 (P - 397) 17 October 1985 (1985-10-17)
J.A. CAVAILLĂS ET AL.: "Very low power nonlinear directional coupling in a p-i(MQW)-n vertical coupler using an electrooptic feedback", IEEE PHOTONICS TECHNOLOGY LETTERS, vol. 2, no. 5, May 1990 (1990-05-01), NEW YORK US, pages 343 - 345, XP000148017
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 16, no. 345 (P - 1392) 27 July 1992 (1992-07-27)
M. EISELT: "Optical loop mirror with semiconductor laser amplifier", ELECTRONICS LETTERS, UK, vol. 28, no. 16, July 1992 (1992-07-01), pages 1505 - 1507, XP000309696
R.S. GRANT ET AL.: "Observation of ultrafst nonlinear refraction in an InGaAsP optical amplifier", APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS., vol. 58, no. 11, March 1991 (1991-03-01), NEW YORK US, pages 1119 - 1121, XP000209764
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 9, no. 259 (P - 397) 17 October 1985 (1985-10-17)
J.A. CAVAILLĂS ET AL.: "Very low power nonlinear directional coupling in a p-i(MQW)-n vertical coupler using an electrooptic feedback", IEEE PHOTONICS TECHNOLOGY LETTERS, vol. 2, no. 5, May 1990 (1990-05-01), NEW YORK US, pages 343 - 345, XP000148017
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 16, no. 345 (P - 1392) 27 July 1992 (1992-07-27)
M. EISELT: "Optical loop mirror with semiconductor laser amplifier", ELECTRONICS LETTERS, UK, vol. 28, no. 16, July 1992 (1992-07-01), pages 1505 - 1507, XP000309696
Download PDF: