Slow and fast light in quantum-well and quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifiersInvited Paper

Slow and fast light in quantum-well (QW) and quantum-dot (QD) semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) using nonlinear quantum optical effects are presented. We demonstrate electrical and optical controls of fast light using the coherent population oscillation (CPO) and four wave mixing (FWM) in the gain regime of QW SOAs. We then consider the dependence on the wavelength and modal gain of the pump in QW SOAs. To enhance the tunable photonic delay of a single QW SOA, we explore a serial cascade of multiple amplifiers. A model for the number of QW SOAs in series with variable optical attenuation is developed and matched to the experimental data. We demonstrate the scaling law and the bandwidth control by using the serial cascade of multiple QW SOAs. Experimentally, we achieve a phase change of 160° and a scaling factor of four at 1 GHz using the cascade of four QW SOAs. Finally, we investigate CPO and FWM slow and fast light of QD SOAs. The experiment shows that the bandwidth of the time delay as a function of the modulation frequency changes in the absorption and gain regimes due to the carrier-lifetime variation. The tunable phase shift in QD SOA is compared between the ground- and first excited-state transitions with different modal gains.     

Analysis of format conversion from optical 16QAM to QPSK based on cascaded four-wave mixing in semiconductor optical amplifier

A scheme of format conversion from optical 16-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (16QAM) to quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) signal based on cascaded four-wave mixing (FWM) in semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) is proposed. Theoretical analysis and simulations of the format conversion scheme are conducted to validate the feasibility of the proposal. In this proposal, the phase conjugated of 16QAM signal is generated after the first FWM process in an SOA, and then the QPSK signal is converted due to the second non-degenerate FWM (ND-FWM) process in another SOA. The performance and the optimal design of the 10 Gbit/s format conversion system under various key parameters of SOAs are evaluated and discussed. Simulation results present useful to enable interconnection between backbone network and access network.     

Analysis of non-linear refractive index influences on four-wave mixing conversion efficiency in semiconductor optical amplifiers

In this paper, we have analyzed the influences of non-linear refractive index on the four-wave mixing (FWM) characteristics in semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs). It has been shown that the generated FWM signal characteristics can be modified due to the variation of non-linear refractive index of the SOA's medium. The wave propagation in the SOA has been modeled using the nonlinear propagation equation taking into account gain spectrum dynamics, gain saturation, which depends on carrier depletion, carrier heating, spectral hole-burning, group velocity dispersion, self-phase modulation and two photon absorption. Simulation of optical wave evolution in the SOA has been carried out using the finite-difference beam propagation method (FD-BPM) both in time and spectral domains. Our simulation results confirm that higher FWM conversion efficiency and lower time bandwidth product are achieved for higher absolute values of non-linear refractive index. Moreover, non-linear refractive index is more efficacious for high power propagated waves in SOAs. Finally, we have studied the modification of waveguide refractive index due to the propagation of optical pulses. We have also shown that when |n₂|=1 cm²/TW, refractive index variation is in the order of 10^?4 to 10^?7 for high and low power input pulses, respectively.     

Experimental verification of the existence of optically induced carrier pulsations in SOAs

Experimental investigation of the role of interband effects in four-wave mixing (FWM) in semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) is reported. Carrier density pulsations (CDP) in SOAs, caused by optical wave beating, are measured in the RF domain. This gives strong experimental confirmation of the link between CDP and wave mixing, as usually assumed in theory of FWM in SOAs. The dependence of CDP amplitude on bias current and optical power is also established.     

Generation and transmission simulation of 60 G millimeter-wave by using semiconductor optical amplifiers for radio-over-fiber systems

A novel method of the millimeter-wave (MMW) generation is proposed for Radio-over-fiber systems with low phase noise by using semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs). The simulation results show that the method is correct. When a pump light and a signal light are input into the SOA, the converted light induced by four-wave mixing (FWM) effect is generated. The optical MMW is generated between the signal light and converted light after filtering the pump light. The electrical MMW is obtained by beating the signal light and converted light via a photo-detector. The phase noise of the system is low because the phase difference between the signal light and converted light is stable for the FWM effect. The power of MMW is increased with the increase of the pump light power and the pump current of the SOA, is decreased with the increase of the polarization azimuths of the pump light.     

Theory of pulse propagation and four-wave mixing in a quantum dot semiconductor optical amplifier

A theory, combining the relations of pulse traveling into quantum dot (QD) semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) with the four-wave mixing (FWM) theory in these SOAs, is developed. Carrier density pulsation (CDP), carrier heating (CH), and spectral hole burning (SHB) contributions on FWM efficiency are discussed. Effect of QD ground state and wetting layer are included. An additional parameter appears in the gain integral relation of QD SOAs. An equation formulating pulses in the QD SOAs is introduced. We have found that FWM in QD SOAs is detuning and is pulse width dependent. For short pulses, CH is dominant at high detunings (10–100 GHz) while at higher detunings (>100 GHz) the SHB is the dominant one. Undesired paunch behavior is shown in QD SOAs then, CDP must be reduced.     

半导体光放大器引起的串扰及其抑制技术

由于半导体光放大器(SOA)的增益饱和效应,在波分复用系统中.每个信道的增益受到复用的其它信道的影响.SOA引起的各信道之间的串扰严重限制了其应用.理论研究了SOA增益饱和效应引起的信道间串扰.数值模拟了多路信道复用时系统的误码率随复用信道数和光功率的变化情况,发现随着复用信道数的增加SOA增益饱和引起的信道间串扰越来越严重.对SOA中串扰的抑制方法进行了理论和实验研究.数值模拟发现连续光注入可以抑制输出功率的波动,从而减小误码率,当复用10个信道时,连续光注入可以使功率代价减小2 dB;实验验证了两信道的40 Gb/s系统中,注入连续光可以减少SOA引起的信道间串扰.     

A Novel Method for Wavelength Conversion with Dual-pump Four-wave Mixing in a Semiconductor Optical Amplifier

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基于PolSK调制的四波混频型超快全光译码器

提出了一种新型的基于半导体光放大器（semiconductor optical amplifier, SOA）中四波混频（four-wave mixing, FWM）效应的超快全光译码器方案,方案中采用了偏振移位键控（polarization-shift-keying, PolSK）信号光.考虑SOA的偏振相关性,建立了这种全光译码器完整的偏振相关宽带理论模型.通过数值模拟的方法,从理论上实现了超快全光译码器,并研究了两输入信号光功率、SOA注入电流和SOA的偏振相关性对全光译码器输出特性的影响. 关键词： 全光译码器 偏振移位键控 四波混频 半导体光放大器     

Analytical approach of developing wavelength encoded AND, NAND and X-OR logic operations and implementation of the theory using semiconductor optical amplifiers

Frequency encoding technique is a very promising and faithful technology for very fast long-haul optical communication and super fast computation. Implementation of different logic gates based on the principle of frequency conversion is the key mechanism of frequency encoded data processing and networking. It is established that semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA) have been used successfully for the purpose of frequency conversion. One of the important techniques of frequency conversion is the conjugate beam generation by four wave mixing (FWM) in SOA and ultimately conversion of it into desired frequency by means of reflecting semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA). However the efficiency of conjugate beam generation is restricted by polarization dependent gain saturation of SOA. This dependency can be successfully removed using polarization diversity scheme. Another technique of the frequency conversion is based on nonlinear rotation of the state of polarization of the linearly polarized probe beam. An important advantage of using polarization rotation in SOA is that a small change in rotation of the state of polarization will lead to a large difference in output power. Here in our present communication we propose a method of developing wavelength encoded AND, NAND and X-OR logic operations exploiting the above mentioned functions of SOA. For this purpose we have developed an analytical treatment based on which above mentioned three logic gates are conducted. The satisfactory simulation result proves also the validity of the developed theory.     

Single-SOA-Based Ultrahigh-Speed All-Optical Half Subtracter with PolSK Modulated Signals

A novel ultrahigh-speed all-optical half subtracter based on four-wave mixing (FWM) in a single semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) is proposed. This scheme only requires a single SOA and two input signals without additional light source, so it is quite simple and compact. Due to the polarization-shift-keying (PolSK) modulated signals being used in this scheme, pattern-dependent degradation can be avoided. By numerical simulation, dependence of the critical factors of the logic gate performance, e.g., the output power of logic 1 and extinction ratio (ER), on two input signals power is investigated. In addition, the effect of the gain polarization dependence of SOA is analysed.     

半导体光放大器中垂直双抽运四波混频效应的理论研究

建立了输入信号光偏振方向任意情况下的半导体光放大器(SOA)中 垂直双抽运四波混频(FWM)效应的完整宽带理论模型. 以基于SOA的垂直双抽运FWM型全光波长转换器为例, 通过数值模拟的方法, 理论研究了输入信号光与两抽运光功率、两抽运光与信号光之间的波长失 谐量和输入信号光偏振方向等工作参数对SOA的垂直双抽 运FWM效应及基于SOA的垂直双抽运FWM型波长转换器特性的影响.     

Amplitude Regenerative Characteristics of RZ-DPSK Wavelength Converter Based on Four-Wave Mixing in SOA

We investigate the phase-preserving amplitude regenerative characteristics of the return-to-zero （RZ） differential- phase-shift-keying （DPSK） wavelength conversion based on four-wave m/xing （FWM） in a semiconductor optical amplifier （SOA）. The Q-factor and the optical signal-to-noise ratio （OSNR） before and after conversion are experimentally obtained and analysed in different input noise power levels. In both the continuous-wave and synchronous clock pumping cases, we find that there is amplitude clamping in the FWM conversion due to the gain saturation of SOA, which can suppress the amplitude fluctuation of the converted DPSK signal before and after demodulation. We have achieved 2-dB Q penalty improvement in our experiment demonstration of lOGbit/s RZ-DPSK signal with OSNR lower than 19dB.     

All- optical phase encoded 4-to-1 phase multiplexer using four wave mixing in semiconductor optical amplifier

Optics has already showed its potency over its electronic complements in case of superfast computing and communication systems. Semiconductor optical amplifier, (SOA) with its several nonlinear properties, plays a very crucial role in the development of high-speed all-optical processor. Multiplexer and demultiplexer are the extremely important element of the processor which takes part in utilizing different actions like encoding, decoding, routing, and the different process of data conversion and generation, etc. In this paper, the authors have proposed a scheme of phase encoded all-optical phase multiplexer using four wave mixing (FWM) property of semiconductor optical amplifier. Thus, the improved tolerance against fiber-nonlinearity and higher receiver sensitivity of phase encoding method with the fast occurring processes like FWM in SOA offers higher speed in this proposed scheme of multiplexing.     

Design of ultrafast all-optical PolSK DMUX based on semiconductor optical amplifiers

A novel ultrahigh-speed all-optical demultiplexer (DMUX) with polarization-shift-keying (PolSK) modulation input signals is proposed. This design is based on four-wave mixing (FWM) in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). For analyzing each amplifier, we use finite-difference method (FDM) based on solution of the traveling wave coupled equations. Using numerical simulation, the all-optical DMUX is theoretically realized at 40 Gb/s. We also study the relation between optical confinement factor and thickness of active layer of the SOA section successfully, and investigate the increasing effect of confinement factor on the DMUX optical output power. With this work, the confinement factor is increased from 0.3 to 0.48, and as a result, the output power approximately twice of its initial value is achieved. Moreover, the effects of polarization dependence of SOA on the output performance of all-optical DMUX for PolSK signal are theoretically investigated in detail.     

Nonlinear properties of quantum dot semiconductor optical amplifiers at 1.3 μm Invited Paper

The dynamics of nonlinear processes in quantum dot (QD) semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) are investigated. Using small-signal measurements, the suitabilities of cross-gain and cross-phase modulation as well as four wave mixing (FWM) for wavelength conversion are examined. The cross-gain modulation is found to be suitable for wavelength conversion up to a frequency of 40 GHz.     

A Novel Method for Wavelength Conversion with Dual-pump Four-wave Mixing in a Semiconductor Optical Amplifier

Using a semiconductor-fiber ring laser, a novel method for the all optical wavelength conversion based on dual-pump four-wave mixing (FWM) in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) is demonstrated. For the input signal with different wavelengths, only one external pump is needed. This scheme can simplify the dual-pump FWM in SOA and has nearly constant conversion efficiency and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) over 50nm range of wavelength shifts.     

All-optical wavelength conversion for 10-Gb/s NRZ payload and 2.5-Gb/s OFDM label in optical-packet-switched network

Simultaneous wavelength conversion based on four-wave mixing (FWM) for 10-Gb/s NRZ payload and 2.5-Gb/s OFDM label signals in optical switching network is experimentally demonstrated. The dual-pump scheme based on FWM in semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) is employed and simultaneous wavelength conversion for optical packet with one optical payload of 10-Gb/s non-return-to-zero (NRZ) on-off keying (OOK) signals and one optical label of 2.5-Gb/s OFDM signals are realized. The bit-error-rate performance is evaluated for both payload and label after wavelength conversion.     

一种新颖的偏振不敏感的基于半导体光放大器的四波混频光波长转换方法

提出和论述了一种新颖的偏振不敏感的基于半导体光放大器的四波混频光波长转换方法。基本思想是设计和采用一种全光学偏振态转换器 ,理论上能将随机偏振态的输入信号光转换为固定偏振方向且功率基本不变的线偏振光 ,利用它控制信号光的偏振态能够克服四波混频过程所固有的偏振敏感性。将这种方法与正交偏振双抽运方法结合起来 ,能较简单地实现偏振不敏感且具有近似常数转换效率的宽带四波混频光波长转换     

All-optical XNOR and AND gates simultaneously realized in a single semiconductor optical amplifier with improved dynamics

All-optical XNOR and AND logic gates using four-wave mixing (FWM) and cross-gain modulation (XGM) in a single semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) with improved dynamics are simultaneously realized. By numerical simulation, the effects of the input optical wave powers and injection current on the critical factors of the logic gate performances, such as the ON--OFF contrast ratio, the power-output level of the logic `1', and the difference between power outputs of the logic `1', are investigated in detail. In addition, the effect of the counter-propagating CW pump on the gain recovery is analysed.