All-optical switching and passive mode-locking based on nonlinear polarization rotation in a semiconductor quantum well amplifier
Journal
Optical and Quantum Electronics
Journal Volume
28
Journal Issue
10
Pages
1217-1227(in
Date Issued
1996-01
Author(s)
Abstract
Owing to differences in the selection rules of electron transitions between TE and TM modes in a quantum well structure, an optical amplifier with such a structure manifests linear birefringence and anisotropy of gain-absorption saturation. The anisotropy leads to the evolution of power-dependent polarization in the optical amplifier. We demonstrate experimentally efficient non-linear self-switching based on this phenomenon in an InGaAs/GaAs single quantum well amplifier. Also, by utilizing the non-linear polarization evolution, we show numerically passive mode-locking of a semiconductor laser with a ring cavity. © 1996 Chapman & Hall.
SDGs
Type
journal article