Experimental investigation on slow light via four-wave mixing in semiconductor optical amplifiers

Abstract

Optical buffer is a key component in all-optical information processing systems. Slow light at room temperature via four-wave mixing in semiconductor an optical amplifier (SOA) is experimentally investigated. Time delay of 0.4 ns is achieved for a sinusoidal modulation signal at 0.1GHz, corresponding to a delay-bandwidth product (DBP) of 0.04. Factors that affect the experimental results are discussed. It is found out that the variable optical delay via four-wave mixing in SOA can be controlled either electrically by changing the SOA bias, or optically by varying the pump power or pump-probe detuning.