Nonlinear Polarization Switching Near Half the Band Gap in Semiconductors

Experimental results of nonlinear polarization switching based on the phenomenon of power-dependent polarization evolution in an AlGaAs strip-loaded waveguide are reported. At 1550 nm, an input peak intensity of 28 GW/cm2 (before the waveguide) results in 30% power switching in a 2-cm-long waveguide. Numerical studies show that we can make the nonlinear switching more efficient by using the nonlinear anisotropy in a multiple-quantum-well waveguide. © 1993 Optical Society of America.