Abstract
We report, the first time to our knowledge, an observation of optical bistability in a Vertical-Cavity Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (VCSOA) operated in reflection mode. Counterclockwise hysteresis loops are obtained over a range of initial phase detuning and bias currents. One hysteresis loop is observed experimentally with an input power as low as 2 ìW when the device is biased at 98% of its lasing threshold. We also numerically simulate the optical bistability and obtain good agreement with our experimental observations. Bistable VCSOAs significantly advances the prospect of dense 2-D array of low switching-intensity all-optical logic and memory elements.
Highlights
Optical bistability in semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) has been studied extensively in view of the potential applications in optical logic and all-optical signal processing [1,2]
We report the first observation of the optical bistability in a Vertical-Cavity Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (VCSOA) operated in reflection mode The results show that the optical hysteresis loop can be obtained with input power as low as 2 μW when the device is biased closed to its lasing threshold
For a VCSOA biased at a given current, a primary polarization direction exists along which the amplifier gain is the maximum
Summary
Optical bistability in semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) has been studied extensively in view of the potential applications in optical logic and all-optical signal processing [1,2]. In order to overcome this shortcoming, Adams et al have proposed the investigation of optical bistability in verticalcavity semiconductor optical amplifiers (VCSOAs), because arrays of VCSOAs are inherently easy to produce [7]. They have speculated that proposed VCSOAs would show the advantage of more tolerance on initial phase detuning due to their short cavity length. We report the first observation of the optical bistability in a VCSOA operated in reflection mode (input signal enters and exists from the same side of the device.) The results show that the optical hysteresis loop can be obtained with input power as low as 2 μW when the device is biased closed to its lasing threshold. The dependence of the optical bistability on bias current, initial phase detuning and input power are investigated briefly
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