Abstract

Complete all-optical switching in materials such as semiconductors has proved difficult. If the nonlinear index of refraction is utilized. there is also strong two-photon absorption (TPA).¹ It has been shown that the typical soliton solutions are not valid in the presence of TPA.² Therefore, traditional soliton switching is degraded. However, we present a new coupled-mode analysis that incorporates TEA and find exact solutions for which complete switching can occur. Using a coupled-mode analysis³in which gain is used to offset the nonlinear loss due to TPA, we derive the set of equations for nonlinear directional couplers.

© 1992 Optical Society of America