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

• Published in: IEEE journal of selected topics in quantum electronics 2008-05, Vol.14 (3), p.758-769
• Main Authors: Kang, I., Dorrer, C., Liming Zhang, Dinu, M., Rasras, M., Buhl, L.L., Cabot, S., Bhardwaj, A., Xiang Liu, Cappuzzo, M.A., Gomez, L., Wong-Foy, A., Chen, Y.F., Dutta, N.K., Patel, S.S., Neilson, D.T., Giles, C.R., Piccirilli, A., Jaques, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Constraining; Conversion; Differential phase shift keying (DPSK); Fluctuation; Gain; Integrated optics; Optical devices; Optical fiber networks; optical logic devices; Optical modulation; optical sampling; Optical signal processing; Optical wavelength conversion; Phase shift keying; phase shift keying (PSK); Quantum electronics; semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA); Semiconductor optical amplifiers; Signal processing; Stimulated emission; Ultrafast optics; ultrafast pulse characterization; wavelength conversion; Wavelengths
• ISSN: 1077-260X; 1558-4542
• DOI: 10.1109/JSTQE.2008.917020

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.