An integrated multiple quantum well Y-junction optical switch for ultrafast consecutive switching

Author

LiKamWa, Patrick ; Kan´an, Ayman M. ; Dutta, Mitra ; Pamulapati, Jagadeesh

Author_Institution

Center for Res. in Electro-Opt. & Lasers, Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA

Volume

2

fYear

1996

fDate

18-21 Nov 1996

Firstpage

324

Abstract

We report femtosecond optical switching in a strip-loaded Y-junction device fabricated on a multiple quantum well (MQW) structure. The MQW heterostructure consisted of 38 periods of GaAs-Al_0.3Ga_0.7As quantum well and barrier layers. The Y-junction switch can function as an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer in time division multiplexed (TDM) systems as well as a key component for matrix switches in asynchronous transmission mode (ATM) network systems. A comparison of the switching behavior on the orientation of the control pulse polarization has also been undertaken and the results are discussed

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; aluminium compounds; asynchronous transfer mode; gallium arsenide; high-speed optical techniques; optical communication equipment; photonic switching systems; semiconductor quantum wells; time division multiplexing; ATM network systems; GaAs-Al_0.3Ga_0.7As; GaAs-Al_0.3Ga_0.7As quantum well; MQW heterostructure; MQW structure; TDM systems; Y-junction switch; asynchronous transmission mode; barrier layers; control pulse polarization; femtosecond optical switching; integrated multiple quantum well Y-junction optical switch; matrix switches; multiple quantum well; optical demultiplexer; optical multiplexer; strip-loaded Y-junction device; switching behavior; time division multiplexed; ultrafast consecutive switching; Laser beams; Laser excitation; Optical devices; Optical pumping; Optical switches; Optical waveguides; Polarization; Probes; Quantum well devices; Ultrafast optics;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Lasers and Electro-Optics Society Annual Meeting, 1996. LEOS 96., IEEE

Conference_Location

Boston, MA

Print_ISBN

0-7803-3160-5

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/LEOS.1996.571836

Filename

571836