All-optical flip-flop based on vertical cavity semiconductor optical amplifiers

Deqiang Song, Veronica Gauss, Haijiang Zhang, Matthias Gross, Pengyue Wen, Sadik Esener

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report the operation of an all-optical set–reset (SR) flip-flop based on vertical cavity semiconductor optical amplifiers (VCSOAs). This flip-flop is cascadable, has low optical switching power (~10 μW), and has the potential to be integrated on a small footprint (~100 μm2). The flip-flop is composed of two cross-coupled electrically pumped VCSOA inverters and uses the principles of cross-gain modulation, polarization gain anisotropy, and highly nonlinear gain characteristics to achieve flip-flop functionality. We believe that, when integrated on chip, this type of all-optical flip-flop opens new prospects for implementing all-optical fast memories and timing regeneration circuits.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2969-2971
Number of pages3
JournalOptics Letters
Volume32
Issue number20
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 15 2007
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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