Study on all-optical switching characteristics of ethyl orange-doped polymer film

The all-optical switching polymer thin films with azobenzene dye ethyl orange as the guest material and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as the host material were prepared by adulteration and spin-coating methods. The all-optical switching characteristics of the samples were measured at different intensities and modulation frequencies of the pump beam (532 nm, CW); the influence of doping concentration on the all-optical switching effect of the films was studied. It is shown that, under room temperature conditions and with a low pump power of 6 mW, the all-optical switch has a response time of about 2 ms and a modulation depth of 45%, and the maximal modulation depth reaches 90%. In addition, it is found that samples with higher doping concentration show a stronger all-optical switching effect but a larger background signal, and good switching performance is obtained by choosing the doping concentrations from 0.8% to 2% of the sample.     

Optical Switching in Silicon Nanowaveguide Ring Resonators Based on Kerr Effect and TPA Effect

We analyze theoretically the 1 × 2 low-power all-optical switching in silicon nanowaveguide ring resonators （RR） based on the Kerr effect and two-photon absorption （TPA）, and give a comparison between both the all-optical switches. The calculation shows that the switching power of the TPA-RR switch is 3 orders smaller than that of the Kerr-RR switch. The switching time for both the switches is about 100ps.     

Photonic switching in GaAlAs optical strip waveguides by photo-induced electroabsorption

GaAlAs strip waveguides embedded in unbiased pn-junctions are employed for all-optical switching. The underlying physical mechanism is a combination of the photovoltaic effect and the conventional Franz-Keldysh effect, thus it is called the photo-induced Franz-Keldysh effect or photo-induced electroabsorption. Experimental as well as theoretical results are given and show good agreement. In the experiments the transmitted light power of a probe beam is switched by 3 dB due to an injected control beam at input light power levels of about 0.5 mW each. The dynamics of this all-optical switch is limited by RC time constants.     

激发态质子转移分子2-(2'-羟基苯基)苯并噻唑溶液的全光开关效应

研究了激发态质子转移(ESPT)分子2-(2'-羟基苯基)苯并噻唑(HBT)在不同极性溶剂中的光开关行为,探讨了溶剂极性对HBT分子光开光效应的影响.揭示了光开关脉冲信号的形成原因,建立了基于光诱导HBT分子激发态非线性折射效应的皮秒全光开关的理论模型.根据对时间响应函数的理论计算和实验结果分析,确定了光开关脉冲信号下降前沿和上升后沿的形成机理以及影响因素,并提出了增强光开关信号下降前沿的关断深度,提升上升后沿的恢复速度的有效途径和方法.本文工作为制成皮秒量级关断,微秒甚至纳秒量级重新打开的快速全光开关器 关键词： 全光开关 2-(2'-羟基苯基)苯并噻唑(HBT) 激发态质子转移 非线性光学特性     

掺杂浓度与溶剂对偶氮聚合物薄膜全光开关

用重复旋转涂膜法制备了乙基红(ER)偶氮染料与聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯(PMMA)掺杂聚合物薄膜和乙基橙(EO)与聚乙烯醇(PVA)掺杂聚合物薄膜.测量了两种聚合物薄膜样品全光开关特性,比较分析了薄膜样品的掺杂浓度和溶剂对全光开关效应的影响,实验结果表明:增加掺杂浓度和溶剂,极性薄膜样品的全光开关效应增强且开关的本底信号增大,但对开关的响应速度影响很小;选择合适的掺杂浓度和强极性溶剂,在室温和几个mW的弱功率控制光条件下聚合物薄膜具有毫秒级开关响应时间和40%以上的开关调制深度,最大的调制深度达72%以上.     

Mode-matched Fano resonances for all-optical switching applications

We introduce the concept of mode-matched Fano resonances in one-dimensional, subwavelength, diffraction gratings. These resonances are characterized by an extremely high quality (Q)-factor and lend themselves well for applications to ultra-low power, all-optical switching devices at telecommunication wavelengths. We provide examples of diffraction gratings made of a chalcogenide glass (As₂S₃) where, thanks to the mode-matched Fano resonances, all-optical switching is obtained at local field intensities well below the photo-darkening threshold of the material.     

Asymmetric Nonlinear Optical Loop Mirror for All Optical Clock Extraction in Self-clocked Optical Transparent OTDM Network

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Efficient nonlinear phase shifts due to cascaded second-order processes in a counterpropagating quasi-phase-matched configuration

A counterpropagating quasi-phase-matched configuration is examined that is capable of efficiently producing second-order cascaded nonlinear phase shifts with minimal power lost to the second harmonic. For all-optical switching in a nonlinear Mach-Zehnder interferometer, the calculated minimum input power needed for switching (i.e., to yield a +/-pi/2 phase shift) is 40 times smaller than the power needed in the standard typeI copropagating configuration. The throughput of this counterpropagating device is 96% at the optimum switching point.     

相移干涉计量中相移器的原路相干相位检测标定

A new all-optical clock extraction scheme based on an asymmetric nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM) is proposed and demonstrated experimentally. The proposed scheme can operate at a relatively low switching power (only 0.3 Pπ is required for the clock pulse, where Pπ means the required switching power for the maximum switching in the asymmetric NOLM) and a relatively low input clock to data ratio (2～2.5). The proposed scheme is promising for clock extraction in the future ultrahigh-speed self-clocked OTDM network.     

基于SOA偏振旋转光开关的性能研究

利用SOA中的偏振主态的概念,理论分析了SOA中的偏振旋转的问题,并以此为基础提出了一种基于SOA中偏振旋转的光开关。这种光开关以SOA和偏振分柬器（Polarization Beam Combiner,PBC）为核心元件,利用光在SOA中的偏振旋转实现了光信号的开关,这种光开关具有开关速度快,功率均衡,易集成等优点,实验得到的开关消光比达到24dB以上,开关速度达到20ns。     

半导体光放大器的稳态增益饱和特性

高速全光逻辑门是实现光分组交换、光计算和未来高速大容量光传输的关键器件,近年来受到广泛的关注。半导体光放大器（SOA）因为具备体积小、工作波长范围宽、响应时间短及良好的非线性特性等优点,成为研制高速全光逻辑器件的首选。采用分段模型分析了SOA的稳态增益饱和特性,通过数值求解载流子速率方程和光传输方程对其特性进行了仿真实现。结果表明,SOA在入射光功率不同时会表现出明显的非线性;在一定范围内增加光功率,SOA增益持续增加,继续增加入射光功率,SOA逐渐进入饱和吸收状态,增益反而降低。     

基于太赫兹光非对称解复用器结构的低开关能量、高线性度全光采样门实验研究

利用多量子阱结构的非线性半导体光放大器(SOA)构建的太赫兹光非对称解复用器(TOAD), 实验实现了一个开关能量低至25 fJ, 线性度高达0.99的全光采样门. 详细分析了采样脉冲功率和非对称偏移量分别对采样窗口形状、宽度和幅度的影响, 并研究了不同采样窗口宽度下TOAD的开关能量及线性度的变化规律.     

Nonlinear directional coupler based on Rb:KTP-waveguides

We propose the use of KTP-based waveguides for all-optical switching. The passing of subnanosecond light pulses through the Rb:KTP nonlinear directional coupler is investigated. The nonlinear switching of 40% of light power from the one channel to another is observed at 5 kW input power.     

Characteristics of all-optical 3R regenerators using cascaded second-order nonlinear effect in quasi-phase matched lithium niobate devices

We numerically show that quasi-phase matched (QPM) lithium niobate (LN) devices employing the cascaded second-order nonlinear effect of second harmonic generation (SHG) and difference frequency mixing (DFM) have all-optical decision gate characteristics. The decision gate function is realized by a parabolic transmittance for a low-power region and a limiting characteristic for a high-power region. The limiter function is attributed to the large group-velocity mismatch between the fundamental and second harmonic pulses. This operation principle differs from those of other all-optical 2R (reamplification and reshaping) or 3R (2R and retiming) regenerators that have been proposed in the past. Furthermore, we show that an initial time offset between the signal and clock pulses can improve the output signal power or the switching efficiency of the device. Based on the numerical results, we propose a method for designing all-optical 3R regenerators using the cascade of SHG and DFM in the QPM-LN devices. Following the design method, all-optical 3R operation at the bit rate of 200 Gbps can be achieved using a 1-cm-long waveguide device.     

基于自相位调制和交叉相位调制的全光开关特性研究

提出一种优化含有掺铒光纤放大器的非线性Sagnac干涉仪全光开关的新方法,建立了基于自相位调制和交叉相位调制两种解析模型,讨论了掺铒光纤放大器的小信号增益和饱和输出功率对开关性能的影响.分析表明掺铒光纤放大器的性能参量对开关所需要的Sagnac环中光子晶体光纤长度产生限制.当采用相同长度的光子晶体光纤时,基于交叉相位调制方式的全光开关与基于自相位调制方式的全光开关相比能够显著降低开关功率.采用分布傅里叶法数值求解非线性薛定谔方程,优化了开关结构,讨论了重复频率为40 GHz脉宽为5 ps的高斯型信号脉冲在开关时沿Sagnac环的传输特性.模拟结果表明,通过合理选择高非线性光子晶体光纤长度和掺铒光纤放大器的性能参量能够实现超低开关功率（＜1 mW）的开关操作.     

一种新型全光开关

提出了一种用指数型变耦合系数定向耦合器同高斯型变耦合系数定向耦合器级联所构成的新型全光开关。理论分析及数值模拟均表明,它同用常系数定向耦合器级联所得的器件相比,具有一个很大的优点,即可以消除开关曲线在过开关区中的振荡,因而具有更好的开关特性;同时,它同用高斯型变耦合系数定向耦合器级联所得的器件相比,具有陡峭的动态开关区(即功率透过率从0逐渐升至1的区域)。综上所述,该级联耦合器更加适合于做全光开关,且在满足一定的开关曲线的要求下,可以通过改变各级联耦合器的参量以改变单元耦合器的数目。     

Long range plasmon assisted all-optical switching at telecommunication wavelengths

We exploit the properties of ultranarrow, Fano-like resonances generated by the coupling of long range surface plasmons with ultrathin (～10?nm), metallic, subwavelength gratings embedded in a nonlinear, cubic material to obtain all-optical switching at telecommunication wavelengths for extremely low input power. We provide an example of a silver metallic grating embedded in a chalcogenide glass (As₂S₃), and we show the concrete possibility to achieve all-optical switching at local field intensities compatible with the photo-darkening threshold of the material.     

All-optical switching and nonlinear optical properties of HBT in ethanol solution

This paper demonstrates an all-optical switching model system comprising a single pulsed pump beam at 355 nm and a CW He--Ne signal beam at 632.8 nm with 2-(2^\prime -hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole (HBT) in ethanol solution. The origins of the optical switching effect were discussed. By the study of nonlinear optical properties for HBT in ethanol solvent, this paper verified that the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) effect of HBT and the thermal effect of solvent worked on quite different time scales and together induced the change of the refractive index of HBT solution, leading to the signal beam deflection. The results indicated that the HBT molecule could be an excellent candidate for high-speed and high-sensitive optical switching devices.     

Ultrafast all-optical signal processing with Symmetric Mach–Zehnder type all-optical switches

We present Symmetric Mach–Zehnder (SMZ) type all-optical switches: an SMZ all-optical switch, a polarization-discriminating SMZ (PD-SMZ) all-optical switch, and a delayed interference signal wavelength converter (DISC). These switches are capable of ultrafast, low control power, and low chirp switching, which is not restricted by slow relaxation of highly efficient nonlinearities. High repetition operation unrestricted by slow relaxation is also possible for these switches. This is because of a push–pull modulation scheme or sometimes called a differential phase modulation scheme. These three devices are similar, but different in some important aspects, thus a comparison is made among the three. Then semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) are discussed as a nonlinear phase shifter for these devices. Then, ultrafast all-optical signal processing using SOA based SMZs is demonstrated. Error-free demultiplexing from 168 to 10.5 Gbit/s is presented, in which a hybrid-integrated SMZ (HI-SMZ) is used as a demultiplexer. In pulse regeneration experiment, the signal pulses at 84 Gbit/s are regenerated by the PD-SMZ and the regenerated pulses are demultiplexed to 10.5 Gbit/s by the HI-SMZ to verify error-free operation. The retiming capability of this scheme is quantitatively demonstrated. Also presented is error-free all-optical wavelength conversion at 168 Gbit/s using the DISC. These results represent the fastest error-free operations reported to date in each category.     

Nonlinear optical switching and all-figures of merit in Bi2S3-xSex/PMMA nanocomposite films investigated by Z scan under visible CW laser

Bi2S3-xSex/poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA)nanocomposite films were prepared using microwave assisted synthesis with different compositions of x.Crystal structure,surface morphology,and optical properties were investigated to characterize the prepared nanocomposite films.The crystallinity and optical band gap of the prepared Bi2S3-xSex/PMMA were affected by x.The prepared samples showed a blue shift in the absorption edge.The laser power dependent nonlinear refraction and absorption of Bi2S3-xSex/PMMA nanocomposite films were investigated by using the Z-scan technique.The optical nonlinearity of the nanocomposite films exhibited switchover from negative nonlinear refraction to positive nonlinear refraction to negative nonlinear refraction effects,and from saturable absorption to reverse saturable absorption to saturable absorption with an increase and decrease in the composition.An interesting all-optical figure of merit was reported to assess the nanocomposite films for a practical device.It was calculated that the device all-figures of merit were based on the nonlinear response,which is important for the all-optical switching device.The results demonstrate that the optimized all-optical figures of merit can be achieved by adjusting the composition and input laser power,which can be used for the design of different all-photonic devices,and the results of nonlinear switching behavior can open new possibilities for using the nanocomposite films in laser Q-switching and mode-locking.