All-Optical Flip-Flop Operation of VCSOA

Journal Article · Thu Jan 22 00:00:00 EST 2009 · Electronics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1049/el:20093124· OSTI ID:946311

Kaplan, A M; Agrawal, G P; Maywar, D N

An all-optical flip-flop, the memory of which is based on dispersive bistability in a single vertical cavity semiconductor optical amplifier, is demonstrated experimentally. Flip-flop control is achieved using two mechanisms: cross-phase modulation to set the flip-flop and cross-gain modulation of the holding beam within a remote SOA to reset it. Optical control signals are sub-milliwatt in power and derived from a single 5 ns, 1539 nm initial pulse. Flip-flop operation at 1542 nm is polarisation insensitive to control signals and achieved with an on-off contrast greater than 3 dB.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FC52-08NA28302
• OSTI ID: 946311
• Report Number(s): DOE/NA-28302; 2008-170; 1847
• Journal Information: Electronics Letters, Vol. 45, Issue 2; ISSN 0013-5194
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English