Three-state all-optical memory based on coupled ring lasers

Author

Liu, Y. ; Hill, M.T. ; Calabretta, N. ; de Waardt, H. ; Khoe, G.D. ; Dorren, H.J.S.

Author_Institution

COBRA Res. Inst., Eindhoven Univ. of Technol., Netherlands

Volume

15

Issue

10

fYear

2003

Firstpage

1461

Lastpage

1463

Abstract

An all-optical memory with three states is presented. The memory is realized from three coupled ring lasers. The state of the optical memory is determined by the wavelength of the memory´s output light. In each state, only one wavelength is dominant. The three-state all-optical memory can be utilized in all-optical packet switches. The concept of the memory is explained and experimental results are presented that demonstrate that a contrast ratio larger than 40 dB between output states of the memory can be obtained.

Keywords

optical communication equipment; optical storage; optical switches; packet switching; ring lasers; semiconductor optical amplifiers; SOA; all-optical packet switches; contrast ratio; coupled ring lasers; optical memory state; output light wavelength; semiconductor optical amplifier; three-state all-optical memory; Nonlinear optics; Optical coupling; Optical filters; Optical interferometry; Optical packet switching; Optical switches; Ring lasers; Semiconductor lasers; Semiconductor optical amplifiers; Telecommunication switching;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LPT.2003.818221

Filename

1232991