Characterization of the Dynamical Processes in All-Optical Signal Processing Using Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers

We present experimental investigations of the dynamical properties of semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) and their impacts in all-optical signal processing using SOAs. We introduce ultrafast optical signal characterization techniques to fully characterize the gain and phase dynamics of SOAs. We elucidate a consequence of the slow carrier recovery as pattern-dependent phase fluctuation in wavelength conversion of on-off -keyed signals. We also analyze the conversion of the phase fluctuation into amplitude fluctuation limiting the performance of all-optical xor operation. Finally, the performance of all-optical wavelength conversion of differential phase-shift-keyed signals is presented with emphasis on regeneration of the phase information.