Abstract
The wavelength conversion using the four-wave mixing (FWM) effect in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) can provide the needed functions for optical networks,1 but it suffers from poor conversion efficiency. Significant improvement on the conversion efficiency and noise figure is required for practical applications. The FWM conversion efficiency increases approximately with G0P2s, where G0 is the unsaturated gain and Ps is the saturation intensity of the SOA.1 Therefore, increasing the gain and/or saturation power of a SOA is the key to improve conversion efficiency. The saturation intensity is inversely proportional to the carrier lifetime. The carrier recovery rate can be enhanced by injecting a holding light of which the wavelength is in the gain region of the SOA.2 This method raises the saturation intensity but decreases the amplifier gain. Dupertuis et al. proposed to use an assisted beam at transparency to speed up a SOA.3 This technique can increase the saturation intensity without sacrificing the gain. In this paper, we will demonstrate that using an assisted beam can improve the efficiency and signal-to-noise ratio of FWM wavelength conversion.
© 2002 Optical Society of America
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