Multimode Interference Bistable Laser Diodes Research Articles

Polarization-Insensitive All-Optical Flip-Flop Using Tensile-Strained Multiple Quantum Wells

We demonstrate a polarization-insensitive all-optical flip-flop based on a multimode-interference bistable laser diode. Polarization-insensitive flip-flop operation is demonstrated with the set power as low as -3 dBm, by applying 0.3% tensile strain to the multiple quantum wells gain medium. The output state of polarization is stabilized to the transverse-magnetic mode irrespective of input polarization, indicating that our device also offers a polarization-stabilizing function. Dynamic switching is achieved without waveform distortion even when the input polarization state is scrambled.

Integrable multimode interference distributed Bragg reflector laser all-optical flip-flops

A novel fully integrable all-optical flip-flop has been created using distributed Bragg reflector multimode interference bistable laser diodes. The single metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy regrowth offset quantum well structure active/passive integrated flip-flop lases in single mode at 1554 nm and is compatible with standard fabrication methods of InP photonic integrated circuits (PICs). All-optical reset switching through cross-gain saturation was demonstrated over a 52-nm range, at 1522-1574 nm. An optical set has been achieved with -3 dBm and optical reset with less than -5-dBm external light injection. The flip-flop will be useful for integration in PICs of future photonic systems for self-routing and optical memories or buffers.

All-optical packet switching and label buffering by MMI-BLD optical flip-flop

All-optical packet switching and label buffering have been demonstrated using multimode interference bistable laser diode optical flip-flops and all-optical Mach-Zehnder interferometer switches. The optical flip-flop buffered the injected optical label for the one packet duration and drove the all-optical switch through cross-phase modulation to switch the optical packet. Error-free operation for output 10-Gb/s optical packets from the switch was obtained with negligible power penalty. The presented packet switching has potential of ultrafast switching and transparency of data rate and format, and will be useful in the future optical packet switching networks.

All-optical switching of 40 Gb/s packets by MMI-BLD optical label memory

We demonstrated all-optical label storing and switching for 40 Gb/s optical packets by using all-optical signal processing of multimode interference bistable laser diode optical flip-flops. The stored optical labels in the optical flip-flop controlled an all-optical switch to forward the injected optical packets. The 40 Gb/s optical packets were successfully switched in the all-optical scheme with 11-dB extinction ratio. Error-free operation for the output packets from the switch was also obtained with 1.3-dB power penalty. The presented all-optical packet switching has the advantages of ultrafast switching and transparency of data rate and format, suitable for the future optical networks.

All-optical flip-flop multimode interference bistable laser diode

All-optical flip-flop operation of multimode interference bistable laser diodes (MMI-BLDs) was experimentally demonstrated for the first time. The MMI-BLD was prepared with a conventional ridge waveguide laser diode fabrication procedure, suitable for photonic integrated circuits. Bistable switching via two-mode bistability was obtained with approximately 0-dBm input powers due to cross-gain saturation and the saturable absorbers. Bit-length conversion was successfully obtained with noninverted and inverted outputs. This device will be useful in future photonic systems requiring all-optical latching functions such as optical memory, self-routing, and further optical signal processing.