All-optical Communication Research Articles

Optical bistability in Rydberg linear and nonlinear processes

Optical bistability has high potential for application in the fields of all-optical communication and optical bistability devices. In this paper, we experimentally present the nonreciprocity “∞”-shaped optical bistability in linear and nonlinear processes involving Rydberg atoms in a thermal vapour gas under cavityless conditions. The “∞”-shaped optical bistability is shown through a nonoverlapping region by scanning the optical field frequency. The nonoverlapping region generated by frequency differences can be modulated by different Rydberg densities and polarizations of the probe field. In addition, optical bistability of the non-Rydberg state can be induced by the Rydberg state, and the results are presented.

Bi-Directional All-Optical Wireless Gigabit Ethernet Communication System Using Automatic Self-Aligned Beam Steering

Bi-Directional All-Optical Wireless Gigabit Ethernet Communication System Using Automatic Self-Aligned Beam Steering

Light-Triggered Reversible Tuning of Second-Harmonic Generation in a Photoactive Plasmonic Molecular Nanocavity.

The ultrasmall mode volume and ultralarge local field enhancement of compact plasmonic nanocavities have been widely explored to amplify a variety of optical phenomena at the nanoscale. Other than passively generating near-field enhancements, dynamic tuning of their intensity and associated nonlinear optical processes such as second-harmonic generation (SHG) play vital roles in the field of active nanophotonics. Here we apply a host-guest molecular complex to construct a photoswitchable molecule-sandwiched metallic particle-on-film nanocavity (MPoFN) and demonstrate both light-controlled linear and nonlinear optical tuning. Under alternating illumination of ultraviolet (UV) and visible light, the photoactive plasmonic molecular nanocavity shows reversible switching of both surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and plasmon resonance. Surprisingly, we observe more significant modulation of SHG from this photoactive MPoFN, which can be explained qualitatively by the quantum conductivity theory (QCT). Our study could pave the way for developing miniaturized integrated optical circuits for ultrafast all-optical information processing and communication.

Design of a photonic crystal fiber polarization beam splitter with simple structure and ultra-wide bandwidth

A novel polarization beam splitter (PBS) based on dual-core photonic crystal fiber (DC-PCF) is proposed in this work. The proposed DC-PCF PBS contains two kinds of lattices and three kinds of air holes to form the asymmetrical elliptic dual-core structure. By using the full-vector finite element method, the propagation characteristics of the proposed DC-PCF PBS are investigated. The simulation results show that the bandwidth of the proposed DC-PCF PBS can reach to 340 nm, which covers the S + C + L + U communication bands, the shortest splitting length is 1.97 mm, and the maximum extinction ratio appears near wavelength 1550 nm. Moreover, the insertion loss of the proposed DC-PCF PBS is very low. It is believed that the proposed DC-PCF PBS has important applications in the field of all-optical communication and network.

High-performance chiral all-optical OR logic gate based on topological edge states of valley photonic crystal

For all-optical communication and information processing, it is necessary to develop all-optical logic gates based on photonic structures that can directly perform logic operations. All-optical logic gates have been demonstrated based on conventional waveguides and interferometry, as well as photonic crystal structures. Nonetheless, any defects in those structures will introduce high scattering loss, which compromises the fidelity and contrast ratio of the information process. Based on the spin-valley locking effect that can achieve defect-immune unidirectional transmission of topological edge states in valley photonic crystals (VPCs), we propose a high-performance all-optical logic OR gate based on a VPC structure. By tuning the working bandwidth of the two input channels, we prevent interference between the two channels to achieve a stable and high-fidelity output. The transmittance of both channels is higher than 0.8, and a high contrast ratio of 28.8 dB is achieved. Moreover, the chirality of the logic gate originated from the spin-valley locking effect allows using different circularly polarized light as inputs, representing “1” or “0”, which is highly desired in quantum computing. The device’s footprint is 18 μm × 12 μm, allowing high-density on-chip integration. In addition, this design can be experimentally fabricated using current nanofabrication techniques and will have potential applications in optical communication, information processing, and quantum computing.

Three-dimensional inter-layer optical signal transmission realized by a monolithically integrated semiconductor-based carrier transport structure.

In this study, we proposed and demonstrated a brand new type of monolithic photonic devices which realizes the three-dimensional (3D) all-optical switching for inter-layer signal transmission. This device is composed of a vertical Si microrod which serves as optical absorption material within a SiN waveguide in one layer and as an index modulation structure within a SiN microdisk resonator lying in the other layer. The ambipolar photo-carrier transport property in the Si microrod was studied by measuring the resonant wavelength shifts under continuous-wave laser pumping. The ambipolar diffusion length can be extracted to be 0.88 µm. Based on the ambipolar photo-carrier transport in a Si microrod through different layers, we presented a fully-integrated all-optical switching operation using this Si microrod and a SiN microdisk with a pump-probe technique through the on-chip SiN waveguides. The switching time windows for the on-resonance operation mode and the off-resonance operation mode can be extracted to be 439 ps and 87 ps, respectively. This device shows potential applications for the future all-optical computing and communication with more practical and flexible configurations in monolithic 3D photonic integrated circuits (3D-PICs).

1 × 5 broadband photonic crystal power splitter designed by the Powell algorithm.

We propose a novel, to the best of our knowledge, 1×5 broadband power splitter based on the photonic crystal. The Powell algorithm is used to reverse-design the proposed broadband power splitter. The results show that the transmittance of each output port of the broadband photonic crystal power splitter can be adjusted by changing the radii and offsets of the dielectric rods at the junction area of each waveguide. According to the target splitting ratio, the reverse design of the structural parameters using the Powell algorithm significantly improves the optimization efficiency and splitting performance of the broadband power splitter. The designed power splitters have a wide working bandwidth of 1525-1565 nm, a flexible and designable power splitting ratio, excellent splitting performance, and a compact size, which have great application prospects in all-optical communication networks, high-density photon integration, and other fields.

Active tuning of directional forward and backward scattering with metallic core/phase change shell nanoparticles

Phase change materials, such as GeTe that exhibits reversible phase transitions between amorphous and crystalline states, are promising for reconfigurable photonic devices. Here we propose a nanoparticle composed of Au core and GeTe shell that can realize active tuning of directional scattering by adjusting the crystallinities of the GeTe shell to manipulate the electric and magnetic Mie responses of the nanoparticle. The scattering, the far-field radiation patterns and the ratio of the forward (backward) to backward (forward) scattering cross section of the hybridized nanoparticle are calculated analytically with Mie theory. The theoretical results show that when the GeTe shell is switched from amorphous phase to crystalline phase, the phase differences between the overlapped electric and magnetic modes can be changed from 0 to π. As a result, the Kerker’s first and second conditions are satisfied simultaneously, leading to tunable forward and backward scattering in near-infrared wavelength. Our results are useful for designing reconfigurable optical nanoantennas that may find applications in compact photonic circuits and all-optical wireless communications.

Multi-Pulse Bound Soliton Fiber Laser Based on MoTe2 Saturable Absorber.

Bound solitons have become a hot topic in the field of nonlinear optics due to their potential applications in optical communication, information processing and radar systems. However, the trapping of the cascaded bound soliton is still a major challenge up to now. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a multi-pulse bound soliton fiber laser based on MoTe2 saturable absorber. In the experiment, MoTe2 nanosheets were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition and transferred to the fiber taper by optical deposition. Then, by inserting the MoTe2 saturable absorber into a ring cavity laser, the two-pulse, three-pulse and four-pulse bound solitons can be stably generated by properly adjusting the pump strength and polarization state. These cascaded bound solitons are expected to be applied to all-optical communication and bring new ideas to the study of soliton lasers.

All-optical AZO-based modulator topped with Si metasurfaces

All-optical communication systems are under continuous development to address different core elements of inconvenience. Here, we numerically investigate an all-optical modulator, realizing a highly efficient modulation depth of 22 dB and a low insertion loss of 0.32 dB. The tunable optical element of the proposed modulator is a layer of Al-doped Zinc Oxide (AZO), also known as an epsilon-near-zero transparent conductive oxide. Sandwiching the AZO layer between a carefully designed distributed Bragg reflector and a dielectric metasurface—i.e., composed of a two-dimensional periodic array of cubic Si—provides a guided-mode resonance at the OFF state of the modulator, preventing the incident signal reflection at λ = 1310 nm. We demonstrate the required pump fluence for switching between the ON/OFF states of the designed modulator is about a few milli-Joules per cm2. The unique properties of the AZO layer, along with the engineered dielectric metasurface above it, change the reflection from 1 to 93%, helping design better experimental configurations for the next-generation all-optical communication systems.

All-optical switching in epsilon-near-zero asymmetric directional coupler

We propose an all-optical switch based on an asymmetric directional coupler structure with epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) layer. The nonlinear optical properties the of ENZ layer are analyzed by hot-electron dynamics process, and the all-optical operating performance of the switch on the silicon nitride platform is investigated. It is found that the pump-induced refractive index change in ENZ layer gives rise to a transfer of signal light in the optical system. We demonstrate that the proposed switch design features an insertion loss of < 2.7 dB, low crosstalk of < − 18.93 dB, and sub-pico-second response time at the communication wavelength of 1.55 μm. With ultrafast response, high performance, and simple structure, the device provides new possibilities for all-optical communication and signal processing.

Wave mixing efficiency in InAs/GaAs semiconductor quantum dot optical amplifiers and lasers

The nonlinear features of both semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) and semiconductor lasers, which are made from the same InAs/GaAs quantum dot (QD) wafers, are investigated in detail. By employing pump-probe driven four-wave mixing as an experimental tool, the wave conversion process shows notably different profiles for the two types of devices. Due to the contributions of ultrafast, sub-picosecond mechanisms, such as carrier heating and spectral hole burning, the pump-probe frequency can be easily tuned to the THz range. SOAs generally benefit more from sub-picosecond carrier dynamics, hence exhibiting a higher conversion efficiency (CE) in the THz range, compared to their laser diode counterparts. The discrepancy even exceeds 10 dB. In addition, laser experiments yield some differences from the amplifier ones, hence leading to a higher nonlinear CE at small detuning ranges. These results strongly improve our insight into the fundamental nonlinear properties of InAs/GaAs QD material, and contribute to the conception of novel devices for future on-chip applications in all-optical communication networks, such as signal wavelength conversion, mode-locking, and optical frequency comb generation.

Radial distribution of pump and signal intensities in step index EDFA for LP11 mode in Kerr nonlinear condition

Abstract In an all-optical communication system, an erbium-doped fiber amplifier performs a very significant role. The effectiveness of the operation of this kind of amplifier depends on different parameters of the amplifier. Variation of the intensities of pump and signal with distance along the radius of the fiber from the core axis is one such significant parameter. In our present case, we have studied the distribution of the intensities of both the pump and signal along the radius of the fiber in an erbium-doped dual-mode fiber amplifier for the LP11 mode. In the present case, some step-index fibers of different normalized frequencies have opted. Our study is an application of the Chebyshev technique expressing the LP11 modal field in the form of a power series. A little computation is required for the prediction of the concerned results by this technique. Results obtained from this study show an excellent match with those found by the rigorous finite element method establishing its accuracy. This study using such a user-friendly and accurate technique will be helpful to the optical engineers involved in this domain.

High-speed and high-contrast two-channel all-optical modulator based on solution-processed CdSe/ZnS quantum dots

Recently, all-optical modulators are potentially the most promising candidate to achieve high-bit rate modulation in high-speed all-optical communication technologies and signal processing. In this study, a two-channel all-optical modulator based on a solution-processed quantum dot structure is introduced for two sizes of quantum dots to operate at two wavelengths of MIR spectra (3 µm and 5 µm). To perform numerical and theoretical analysis and evaluate the optical behavior of the proposed all-optical modulator, the coupled rate and propagation equations have been solved by considering homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening effects. The modulation depth at the 50 GHz frequency and 3 mW probe power is attained, about 94% for channel-1 with the wavelength of 559 nm at 300 Wcm−2 pump power density as well as approximately 83.5% for channel-2 with the wavelength of 619 nm at 500 Wcm−2 pump power density. The introduced two-channel all-optical modulator can operate simultaneously at two wavelengths during the modulation process in which information could be transmitted through both signals from the control light. This approach can present the practical device as a high-contrast and high-speed two-channel all-optical modulator with a high modulation depth in numerous applications such as thermal imaging in night vision cameras, wavelength de-multiplexing, signal processing, free-space communication.

All-fiber nonvolatile broadband optical switch using an all-optical method.

Optical switches based on phase change materials have enormous application potential in optical logic circuits and optical communication systems. Integration of all-optical switching devices with optical fibers is a promising approach for realizing practical applications in enabling the optical fiber to transmit and process signals simultaneously. We describe an all-fiber nonvolatile broadband optical switch using an all-optical method. We use a single optical pulse to modulate the phase change material deposited on the tapered fiber to achieve logical control of the transmitted light. The response time of our optical switch is 80 ns for SET and 200 ns for RESET. Our optical switches can operate in the C-band (1530-1565 nm). The optical switching contrast is 40%. Our approach paves the way for all-optical nonvolatile fiber optic communication.

Modulated spatial transmission signals in the photonic bandgap

This paper describes the spatial transmission of electromagnetically induced transparency and four-wave mixing signals in the photonic bandgap structure, which are modulated using the adjustable parameters of light fields. The spatial transmission patterns of the relevant signals are experimentally investigated with respect to the optical nonlinear Kerr effect that occurs in the modulation process. The experimental results reveal the spatial transmission patterns of the probe transmission and the four-wave mixing signals, such as focusing, defocusing, shifting, and spatial splitting. This study explains how the tunable parameters of light fields and their interactions with each other can regulate the spatial transmission of the light fields by changing the refractive indices of media, which provides a new research perspective and a degree of experimental technology support for more efficient all-optical communications.

Chaotic optical communications of 12.5-Gbaud OOK and 10-Gbaud QPSK signals based on mutual injection of semiconductor lasers.

Chaotic optical communications can provide a high level of security in data transmission. High-speed chaotic optical communications have hardly been implemented so far limited by the bandwidth of chaotic signals and the difficulties of wideband chaos synchronization. Here, we experimentally demonstrate all-optical wideband chaos synchronization and communications based on mutual injection of semiconductor lasers. Both 12.5-Gbaud on-off keying (OOK) signals and 10-Gbaud quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) signals are successfully encrypted and transmitted over a 10-km and 2-km single-mode fiber (SMF), respectively.

Phase-dependent controllable field generation in a ring cavity resonator

We investigate the control field phase-dependent output field transmission from a red detuned ring cavity optomechanical system. Our scheme displays a double transparency window in the presence of a strong control and weak probe field. Additionally, we invoke an external mechanical pump to one of the movable mirrors to modulate its vibration. Complete control over the output field transmission through one of the transparency windows can be achieved due to the combined effect of the amplitudes and the phases of the mechanical pump and the control field. Further, a tunable group delay of the probe pulse propagation can be obtained by the tailoring of the control field phase in the presence of a suitable mechanical drive. We further discuss the effect of control field phase on Stokes field generation via the four-wave mixing process. This scheme may find potential applications in weak signal sensing and all-optical communication purposes.

All-optical Ti3C2Tx modulator based on a sandwich structure.

All-optical modulators based on a MXene-Ti3C2Tx have recently garnered much attention due to their broadband light-matter interactions and ultrafast carrier dynamics. To investigate the modulation characteristics of pump intensity and pump light modulation frequency, we establish an all-optical modulator with a sandwich structure based on MXene-Ti3C2Tx/PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) film. The result shows that this modulator can achieve a high modulation depth of 12.55 dB and a modulation frequency of 50 kHz corresponding to a response time at the microsecond scale. The successful preparation of the modulator is attributed to the saturable absorption characteristics of the MXene-Ti3C2Tx. This modulator has great potential in all-optical communications and ultrafast optical signal processing.

Nanosecond-scale all-optical Ti3C2T x -MXene modulator

Inspired by recent advancements of graphene-based ultrafast photonic devices, Ti3C2T x -MXene, as a graphene-like two-dimensional layer-structure material, has gained extensive interest in nonlinear optical applications, especially in all-optical intensity modulation. Herein, we successfully fabricated an all-optical modulator based on Ti3C2T x -Mxene/polyvinyl-alcohol film with nanosecond-scale response time, modulation speed of 100 kHz, and modulation depth of 10%. Furthermore, the variation of fall edges of modulated signal pulse caused by thermo-optic effect under different pump power was also observed. Considering the ease of fabrication, low cost, and ease of integration, the proposed modulator may open the door for high-speed all-optical communications and signal processing.