High-speed all-optical signal processing by switching devices based on semiconductor optical amplifiers

In an all-optical switch an optical control signal is used to alter the transmission properties of a nonlinear medium. As nonlinear media, semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) are of particular interest, since low switching powers and short interaction lengths are required. In contrast to the conventional interferometric switches, we will report on experimental results obtained with a novel all-optical Gain-Transparent (GT) SOA switch. The key element in the switch is a polarization insensitive 1.3 mu m MQW-SOA into which a data signal (1.55 mu m) and a control signal (1.3 mu m) are injected.