All-optical functions based on semiconductor ring lasers (Invited Paper)

Abstract

Semiconductor ring laser (SRL) has been shown to possess robust bistability between its two possible directions, i.e., clockwise (cw) and counter-clockwise (ccw) lasing, routinely demonstrating directional extinction ratio (DER) of > 25 dB. In this paper, experimental schemes and results using the SRL as a universal photonic digital element to form all-optical logic, memory, and signal processing circuits are summarized. It is demonstrated that the SRL can be used for both combinatorial and sequential logic functions, and as all-optical regeneration devices. Furthermore, it is shown that a SRL logic circuit can be all-optically reconfigured to perform different all-optical logic functions.