Performance of two operational modes of a TOAD device subject to frequency-detuned signal and control pulses

Summary form only given. Among the all-optical switches currently being researched and implemented, the Terahertz Optical Asymmetric Demultiplexer (TOAD) topology, is one of the most attractive because of its unique advantages including high operating speed, low control pulse energy and compactness suitable for easy manufacture. In this paper, the dependence of the operating characteristics of TOADs upon control pulse energies and frequency detunings between the signal and control pulses are investigated numerically, using a comprehensive model for describing propagation of intense picosecond pulses in SOAs and a detailed gain model. The material gain model prescribes, in particular, the wavelength dependence of the linewidth enhancement factor and the differential gain coefficient. These are shown to be crucial to analysis of the device performance. The control pulse frequency is assumed to be located at the peak of the gain spectrum of the SOA.