Abstract
The all-optical signal processing performance of devices based on active semiconductor waveguides is investigated. A large signal model is used to analyse the physical mechanisms limiting the high-speed performance of both semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) and electro-absorption modulators (EAMs). Wavelength conversion and signal regeneration in EAMs is discussed at 10 and 40 Gbit/s. The finite carrier sweep- out time is shown to limit the EAM performance. Four-wave mixing (FWM) in SOAs is almost instantaneous. However, with increasing bit rates and advanced processing functionalities some limitations arise. These limitations are elucidated by studying bidirectional simultaneous clear and drop (de-multiplexing) for a 4×40 Gbit/s signal. The simultaneous clearing and de-multiplexing (drop) of an optical time division multiplexing signal channel for an 8×40 Gbit/s signal is investigated in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The finite response time of the SOAs is found to limit the base bit rate to 40 Gbit/s. Base bit rates above 40 Gbit/s will require an improved device design with faster material response.
© 2001 Optical Society of America
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