Abstract

Orthogonally polarized optical feedback has been proven to act on the frequency of semiconductor lasers. The coupling of this feedback to a nonlinear filter results in bistability for the frequency of the laser output [Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 173902 (2005) ]. This phenomenon opens the way to the development of all-optical devices such as a switch between frequency states of the optical emission. For demonstrating this particular application we use an AsGaAl monomode laser emitting around 852 nm, together with a warm atomic cesium vapor as a resonant filter. The output frequency state of the switch is determined by two different frequencies of a control laser, with each control frequency changing the switch frequency in only one direction.

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