Title :
Cascadable, latching photonic switch with high optical gain by the monolithic integration of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser and a pn-pn photothyristor
Author :
Zhou, Ping ; Cheng, Julian ; Schaus, C.F. ; Sun, S.Z. ; Hains, C. ; Zheng, K. ; Armour, E. ; Hsin, W. ; Myers, D.R. ; Vawter, G.A.
Author_Institution :
Center for High Technol. Mater., New Mexico Univ., Albuquerque, NM, USA
Abstract :
The authors report the first demonstration of a cascadable, photonic switch based on the monolithic integration of a multi-quantum-well vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) and a latching pn-pn photothyristor grown by low-pressure metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy (LP-MOCVD). The VCSEL and pn-pn photothyristor structures can be independently optimized for optical switching, logic, and memory functions. Optical switching with high gain (30000), high contrast (30 dB), low switching power (11 nW), and latching memory have been demonstrated. The integrated pn-pn/VCSEL switch not only represents a volatile optical memory, but also can be used to implement a new class of optical logic gates with latching logic outputs.<>
Keywords :
integrated optoelectronics; laser cavity resonators; optical logic; optical storage; optical switches; photoconducting devices; semiconductor junction lasers; thyristors; 11 nW; LP-MOCVD; MQW laser; cascadable latching photonic switch; high contrast; high gain; high optical gain; latching memory; low switching power; low-pressure metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy; monolithic integration; optical logic; optical logic gates; optical memory; pn-pn photothyristor; vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser; Indium gallium arsenide; Integrated optics; Monolithic integrated circuits; Optical bistability; Optical crosstalk; Optical feedback; Optical switches; Photothyristors; Surface emitting lasers; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
