A proposal for two-input arbitrary Boolean logic gates using single semiconductor optical amplifier by picosecond pulse injection

Abstract

We propose theoretically two-input arbitrary Boolean logic (NOR, OR, AND, XOR, XNOR, NAND) using single semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) assisted by several detuning optical filters. The probe spectrum is broadened by picosecond pulse injection in the SOA, and four consequent optical Gaussian filters are used to select different frequency components to acquire logic NOR, OR, AND, XOR, respectively. Then two additional logic gates, XNOR and NAND, are realized by combining two logic channels. The power penalty, Q-factor, and extinction ratio are measured for all logic gates. It is shown that the output logic with dark return-to-zero (RZ) format has a large power penalty. The Q-factor is larger than 6 and the extinction ratio is larger than 6.3 dB for all logic gates within 16 nm wavelength range.