Intensity dependent polarization in a semiconductor multiple quantum-well amplifier

Author

Yang, Chih-Chung

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA, USA

Volume

29

Issue

4

fYear

1993

fDate

4/1/1993 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1091

Lastpage

1097

Abstract

It is shown numerically that the polarization evolution in a semiconductor multiple-quantum-well amplifier is intensity dependent for an input light partially coupled in both polarization modes because of the anisotropy of gain saturation. This phenomenon can be used for nonlinear polarization switching. By placing a polarization beam splitter at the output end, self-polarization switching is obtained. In the case of pulsed inputs, time-dependent polarization is observed, leading to pulse breakup and a poorer switching contrast in nonlinear switching. When the width of the input pulse is much larger than the carrier lifetime, the time-dependent polarization distribution is symmetric, and a strong single hump as well as weak two-hump pulses are observed at the two output ports, respectively

Keywords

light polarisation; nonlinear optics; optical switches; semiconductor lasers; semiconductor quantum wells; anisotropy; carrier lifetime; gain saturation; input light; intensity dependent polarization; nonlinear polarization switching; output ports; polarization beam splitter; polarization evolution; polarization modes; pulse breakup; pulsed inputs; self-polarization switching; semiconductor multiple quantum-well amplifier; switching contrast; time-dependent polarization; two-hump pulses; Absorption; Anisotropic magnetoresistance; Charge carrier lifetime; Laser stability; Optical polarization; Pulse amplifiers; Quantum well devices; Quantum wells; Semiconductor optical amplifiers; Space vector pulse width modulation;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.214494

Filename

214494