Quantum-dot Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers in State Space Model

A state space model(SSM) is derived for quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifiers(QD-SOAs).Rate equations of QD-SOA are formulated in the form of state update equations,where average occupation probabilities along QD-SOA cavity are considered as state variables of the system.Simulations show that SSM calculates QD-SOA′s static and dynamic characteristics with high accuracy.

All-optical error-bit amplitude monitor based on NOT and AND gates in cascaded semiconductor optical amplifiers

This paper proposes and simulates a novel all-optical error-bit amplitude monitor based on cross-gain modulation and four-wave mixing in cascaded semiconductor optical amplifiers （SOAs）, which function as logic NOT and logic AND, respectively. The proposed scheme is successfully simulated for 40 Gb/s return-to-zero （RZ） signal with different duty cycles. In the first stage, the SOA is followed by a detuning filter to accelerate the gain recovery as well as improve the extinction ratio. A clock probe signal is used to avoid the edge pulse-pairs in the output waveform. Among these RZ formats, 33% RZ format is preferred to obtain the largest eye opening. The normalized error amplitude, defined as error bit amplitude over the standard mark amplitude, has a dynamic range from 0.1 to 0.65 for all RZ formats. The simulations show small input power dynamic range because of the nonlinear gain variation in the first stage. This scheme is competent for nonreturn-to-zero format at 10Gb/s as well.

Reconfigurable all-optical dual-directional half-subtractor for high-speed differential phase shift keying signal based on semiconductor optical amplifiers

All-optical digital logic elementary circuits are the building blocks of many important computational operations in future high-speed all-optical networks and computing systems. Multifunetional and reconfigurable logic units are essential in this respect. Employing the demodulation properties of delay interferometers for input differential phase shift keying signals and the gain saturation effect in two parallel semiconductor optical amplifiers, a novel design of 40 Cbit/s reconfigurable all-optical dual-directional half-subtractor is proposed and demonstrated. All output logic results show that the scheme achieves over 11=dB extinction ratio, clear and wide open eye diagram, as well as low polarization dependence （〈 1 dB）, without using any additional input light beam. The scheme may provide a promising candidate for future ultrafast all-optical signal processing applications.

Optical Nonlinearity in a Novel Optical Signal Regeneration System Based on Cross-Gain Modulation Using Cascaded Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers

We propose a novel optical signal regeneration system based on wavelength converters by use of cross gain modulation in cascaded semiconductor optical amplifiers. The nonlinearity in optical input/output characteristics and eye opening using NRZ signal were archived.

Vertical Cavity Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers:Physics and Applications

A review is presented of the state-of-the-art in vertical cavity semiconductor optical amplifiers (VCSOAs), focusing in particular on recent developments in theoretical analysis, wavelengths of operation, materials systems, potential applications and a design example.

International Standardization Activities for Optical Amplifiers

International standardization activities for Optical Amplifiers at IECTC86 and ITU-T SG15 are reviewed. Current discussions include Optical Amplifier safety guideline, Reliability standard, Rest methods of Noise and PMD, Definitions of Raman amplifier parameters and OA classification.

Analytic approach to the small-signal frequency response of saturated semiconductor optical amplifiers using multisection model

An analytic solution derived by multisection model to the small-signal frequency response （SSFR） of wavelength conversion based on cross-gain modulation （XGM） in semiconductor optical amplifiers （SOAs） is presented. The result contains details that can affect the characteristics of SSFR significantly more than previous ones.

Slow and fast light in quantum-well and quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifiers Invited Paper

Slow and fast light in quantum-well （QW） and quantum-dot （QD） semiconductor optical amplifiers （SOAs） using nonlinear quantum optical effects are presented. We demonstrate electrical and optical controls of fast light using the coherent population oscillation （CPO） and four wave mixing （FWM） in the gain regime of QW SOAs. We then consider the dependence on the wavelength and modal gain of the pump in QW SOAs. To enhance the tunable photonic delay of a single QW SOA, we explore a serial cascade of multiple amplifiers. A model for the number of QW SOAs in series with variable optical attenuation is developed and matched to the experimental data. We demonstrate the scaling law and the bandwidth control by using the serial cascade of multiple QW SOAs. Experimentally, we achieve a phase change of 160^o and a scaling factor of four at 1 GHz using the cascade of four QW SOAs. Finally, we investigate CPO and FWM slow and fast light of QD SOAs. The experiment shows that the bandwidth of the time delay as a function of the modulation frequency changes in the absorption and gain regimes due to the carrier-lifetime variation. The tunable phase shift in QD SOA is compared between the ground- and first excited-state transitions with different modal gains.

An Interrogation System Based on Two Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers for Weak Fiber Bragg Gratings

An interrogation system based on two semiconductor optical amplifiers for weak fiber Bragg gratings （FBGs） was proposed. The first semiconductor optical amplifier （SOA） was used to modulate the light, and the second SOA separated the reflected signal from the different FBGs through delayed switching. The proposed system has lower insertion loss and higher spatial resolution, and can interrogate the time- and wavelength-division multiplexed FBG array. Up to 50 FBGs, with a reflectivity of 0.2% and a spatial resolution of 5 m along the optical fiber, were distinguished to demonstrate the interrogation system.

Optical Amplifiers and Their Role in Optical Network

Erbium doped fiber amplifier, Raman amplifier, and semiconductor optical amplifier are discussed. The applications of these amplifiers are reviewed.

An Analytical Study on Bistability of Fabry-Perot Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers

Optical bistabilities have been considered to be useful for sensor applications. As a typical nonlinear device, Fabry-Perot semiconductor optical amplifiers （FPSOAs） exhibit bistability under certain conditions. In this paper, the bistable characteristics in FPSOAs are investigated theoretically. Based on Adams＇s relationship between the incident optical intensity Iin and the z-independent average intracavity intensity Iav, an analytical expression of the bistable loop width in SOAs is derived. Numerical simulations confirm the accuracy of the analytical result.

Design of ultrafast all-optical PolSK DMUX based on semiconductor optical amplifiers

A novel ultrahigh-speed all-optical demultiplexer （DMUX） with polarization-shift-keying （PolSK） modula- tion input signals is proposed. This design is based on four-wave mixing （FWM） in a semiconductor optical amplifier （SOA）. For analyzing each amplifier, we use finite-difference method （FDM） based on solution of the traveling wave coupled equations. Using numerical simulation, the all-optical DMUX is theoretically realized at 40 Gb/s. We also study the relation between optical confinement factor and thickness of active layer of the SOA section successfully, and investigate the increasing effect of confinement factor on the DMUX optical output power. With this work, the confinement factor is increased from 0.3 to 0.48, and as a result, the output power approximately twice of its initial value is achieved. Moreover, the effects of polarization dependence of SOA on the output performance of all-optical DMUX for PolSK signal are theoretically investigated in detail.

Nonlinear properties of quantum dot semiconductor optical amplifiers at 1.3 μm:errata

The authors regret that one of the coauthors was inadvertently omitted in the previous paper. E. Varene was a member of the Institut fur Festk6rperphysik at the Technische Universitat Berlin and contributed to the results on cross-phase modulation.

Spectral Properties of Fabry-Pérot Laser Diodes and Conventional Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers

This paper presents an unified comprehensive model for the analysis of the spectral properties of Fabry-Perot laser diodes and conventional semiconductor optical amplifiers. We develop the model by considering the wide-band amplified spontaneous emission fields and the input optical signal fields in a general frame. Specifically, this paper discusses theoretical aspects of the model in details, which are based upon the spectra of material gain and spontaneous emission power, nonlinear gain suppression, and longitudinal spatial hole burning. This paper also presents simulation results of the model for the case of conventional semiconductor optical amplifier and the case of Fabry-Perot laser diode to demonstrate its capabilities.

Improving Continuous-Variable Measurement-Device-Independent Multipartite Quantum Communication with Optical Amplifiers

The developing tendency of continuous-variable （CV） measurement-device-independent （MDI） quantum cryptography is to cope with the practical issue of implementing sealable quantum networks. Up to now, most theoretical and experimental researches on CV-MDI QKD are focused on two-party protocols. However, we suggest a CV-MDI multipartite quantum secret sharing （QSS） protocol use the EPR states coupled with optical amplifiers. More remarkable, QSS is the real application in multipartite CV-MDI QKD, in other words, is the concrete implementation method of multipartite CV-MDI QKD. It can implement a practical quantum network scheme, under which the legal participants create the secret correlations by using EPR states connecting to an untrusted relay via insecure links and applying the multi-entangled Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger （GHZ） state analysis at relay station. Even if there is a possibility that the relay may be completely tampered, the legal participants are still able to extract a secret key from network communication. The numerical simulation indicates that the quantum network communication can be achieved in an asymmetric scenario, fulfilling the demands of a practical quantum network. Additionally, we illustrate that the use of optical amplifiers can compensate the partial inherent imperfections of detectors and increase the transmission distance of the CV-MDI quantum system.

40-Gbit/s 3-input all-optical priority encoder based on cross-gain modulation in two parallel semiconductor optical amplifiers

A 3-input all-optical priority encoder is designed. Proof-of-concept experiment is performed at 40-Gbit/s based on a cross-gain modulation （XGM） in two parallel semiconductor optical amplifiers （SOAs）. Output logic signals with over 10-dB extinction ratios （ERs） and clear open eye diagrams are obtained. No additional input light beam is used. The proposed scheme may be a promising candidate for future ultrafast all-optical digital signal processing circuits and computing systems.

Generation of broadly tunable picosecond mid-infrared laser and sensitive detection of a mid-infrared signal by parametric frequency up-conversion in MgO:LiNbO_3 optical parametric amplifiers

Picosecond optical parametric generation and amplification in the near-infrared region within 1.361-1.656 μm and the mid-infrared region within 2.976-4.875 μm is constructed on the basis of bulk MgO：LiNbO 3 crystals pumped at 1.064 μm.The maximum pulse energy reaches 1.3 mJ at 1.464 μm and 0.47 mJ at 3.894 μm,corresponding to a pumpto-idler photon conversion efficiency of 25%.By seeding the hard-to-measure mid-infrared radiation as the idler in the optical parametric amplification and measuring the amplified and frequency up-converted signal in the near-infrared or even visible region,one can measure very week mid-infrared radiation with ordinary detectors,which are insensitive to mid-infrared radiation,with a very high gain.A maximum gain factor of about 7 脳 10 7 is achieved at the mid-infrared wavelength of 3.374 μm and the corresponding energy detection limit is as low as about 390 aJ per pulse.

Novel configuration for wavelength conversion based on cross-gain modulation in semiconductor optical amplifiers

Novel configuration for cross-gain modulation (XGM) wavelength conversion based on the single-port-coupled semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), in which the input and the output share one port, has been demonstrated with the output extinction ratio as high as 15 dB, even in the 2.5 Gbit/s wavelength up conversion with a 12.8 nm span. Owing to the existence of double-pass gain and the transmission loss of the rear facet, the novel scheme can be achieved with simpler implementation and higher output extinction ratio, compared with the conventional schemes based on double-port-coupled SOA either with identical long chip or double long chip.

Nonlinear Liquid Crystal Optical Signal Amplifiers

The principle, structure and system of nonlinear liquid crystal optical signal amplifiers are described. Experimental results are theoretically analysed for optical signal amplifers. It shows that this type of the optical signal amplifiers are comprised of liquid crystal light sensitive medium which can receive a modulated signal optic wave and a pump wave, and can be applied to optical transmission systems.

All-Optical Sampling Using Nonlinear Polarization Rotation in a Single Semiconductor Optical Amplifier

We propose a novel all-optical sampling method using nonlinear polarization rotation in a semiconductor optical amplifier. A rate-equation model capable of describing the all-optical sampling mechanism is presented in this paper. Based on this model, we investigate the optimized operating parameters of the proposed system by simulating the output intensity of the probe light as functions of the input polarization angle, the phase induced by the polarization controller, and the ori- entation of the polarization beam splitter. The simulated results show that we can obtain a good linear slope and a large linear dynamic range,which is suitable for all-optical sampling. The operating power of the pump light can be less than lmW. The presented all-optical sampling method can potentially operate at a sampling rate up to hundreds GS/s and needs low optical power.