1:N Space Division Switches for Optical Routing, Reconfigurable Interconnections, and Time and Wavelength-Division Switching Applications

Abstract

We report the first observation of two-mode intensity bistability in intracavity-coupled in-plane lasers and oxide-confined vertical-cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) operating under room-temperature continuous wave (CW) conditions. These devices have been integrated in a monolithic all-optical 1xN routing switch. The VCSEL sections act as output couplers for modulation signals introduced to the main ridge-waveguide in-plane laser or the side in-plane control lasers, and the combined devices are capable of time-division multiplexing and demultiplexing operations. Hysteresis in the input-output transfer characteristics of the coupled in-plane lasers and VCSELs also leads to bistable operation over a range of bias conditions. The on/off contrast ratio is >29 dB, and there is negligible crosstalk between the output channels. These devices have a wide variety of potential applications, including logic gates and data buffers in optical switching networks.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA346990

Entities

People

  • C. L. Tang
  • D. B. Shire

Organizations

  • Cornell University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Contrast
  • Fabrication
  • Hysteresis
  • Lasers
  • Materials
  • Modulation
  • Multiplexing
  • Optical Fibers
  • Optical Materials
  • Optical Switching
  • Switches
  • Switching
  • Time Division Multiplexing
  • Wave Mixing
  • Waveguides

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.
  • Microwave Engineering.
  • Quantum Dot Semiconductor Device Photonics and Graphene Optoelectronic Materials and THz Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster