Title :
Ultrafast all-optical switching in Al0.18Ga0.82As directional coupler in 1.55 mu m spectral region
Author :
Aitchison, J.S. ; Kean, A.H. ; Ironside, C.N. ; Villeneuve, A. ; Stegeman, G.I.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electron. &Electr. Eng., Glasgow Univ., UK
Abstract :
The observation of all-optical switching in a nonlinear AlGaAs directional coupler using the nonresonant contribution to the intensity dependent refractive index, below half the bandgap, is reported. These results represent the first demonstration of an ultrafast device using semiconductor waveguides, where the throughput is not limited by absorption processes.
Keywords :
III-V semiconductors; aluminium compounds; directional couplers; gallium arsenide; nonlinear optics; optical couplers; optical switches; 1.55 micron; AlGaAs directional coupler; III-V semiconductors; all-optical switching; intensity dependent refractive index; nonlinear optics; nonresonant contribution; semiconductor waveguides; throughput; ultrafast device;
Journal_Title :
Electronics Letters
DOI :
10.1049/el:19911064
