Abstract

A theoretical investigation of the role of interband effects in wave mixing in semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA) is reported. Carrier density modulation (CDM) caused by optical wave beating in SOAs is examined along with its dependence on different operating parameters. Unlike most wave mixing theories, in which the existence and form of carrier pulsations are assumed a priori, we model the carrier dynamics and optical propagation in the time domain directly without invoking such an assumption. The dependence of CDM on the bias current, input power, and detuning between the pump and probe waves is investigated. Selected simulation results are verified experimentally. Good qualitative agreement is obtained between simulations and experiments for nearly degenerate wave mixing (restricted to $3\mathrm{GHz}$ by experimental limitations).

© 2010 Optical Society of America

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