Optical logic and memory apparatus
This patent describes a polarization-bistable apparatus which consists of: a semiconductor laser operating near the polarization transition temperature wherein the laser operates in a pure TM/sub 00/ mode at low injection currents and switches operation to a pure TE/sub 00/ mode at high injection currents, having hysteresis loops with a high contrast ratio in its polarization-resolved power versus current characteristic while total power exhibits only slight change in hysteresis, the switching behavior of the TE/sub 00/ mode being complementary to that of the TM/sub 00/ mode; means for biasing the laser for operation within the hysteresis loops; and means for applying a current pulse in one direction to the laser to cause the laser to provide a TE/sub 00/ mode laser output, and for applying a current pulse in the opposite direction to switch to a TM/sub 00/ mode.
- Assignee:
- GTE Laboratories Inc., Waltham, MA
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4689793
- OSTI ID:
- 5914839
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
CONTROL
CURRENTS
DESIGN
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
HYSTERESIS
LASERS
LINEAR MOMENTUM
MEMORY DEVICES
MODE CONTROL
OPERATION
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POLARIZATION
PULSES
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SEMICONDUCTOR LASERS
STABILITY
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE
TRANSVERSE MOMENTUM