Phase-sensitive fiber-based parametric all-optical switch.

Josué Parra-Cetina,Magnus Karlsson,Aleš Kumpera,Peter A Andrekson

doi:10.1364/oe.23.033426

Abstract

We experimentally demonstrate, for the first time, an all-optical switch in a phase-sensitive fiber optic parametric amplifier operated in saturation. We study the effect of phase variation of the signal and idler waves on the pump power depletion. By changing the phase of a 0.9 mW signal/idler pair wave by π/2 rad, a pump power extinction ratio of 30.4 dB is achieved. Static and dynamic characterizations are also performed and time domain results presented.

Highlights

Optical switches have for two decades received much attention as a technology driving future optical network devices and systems
We have experimentally demonstrated an all-optical switch in a phase-sensitive fiber-based parametric amplifier
The implemented setup enabled us to measure a high pump depletion extinction ratios (ERs), which was of 30.4 dB, meaning that a pump power depletion of 99.91% was attained

Summary

Introduction

Optical switches have for two decades received much attention as a technology driving future optical network devices and systems. Some of the first demonstrations of all-optical switching were proposed using in-line semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs). The control signal had at least one order of magnitude higher than the signal to be switched, and provided in the best scenarios extinction ratios (ERs) of up to 30 dB [5]. Optical switches based on SOAs offer a hybrid solution as an electrical bias is required to supply carriers acting as a medium for interaction between photons. For this reason, the performance of such devices depends mainly on the carrier dynamics limiting their usage to few tens of gigahertz with current stateof-the-art technologies. When SOAs are combined with interferometers their ER is improved at the expense of more complex device layout and an increase in the cost due to the additional biasing electrical components needed

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Conclusion