Optical bistability in semiconductor injection lasers

Abstract

This paper reviews optical bistability in semiconductor lasers, with particular reference to the potential switching speeds of the systems demonstrated to date. Devices which switch by redistributing a nearly constant number of carriers within the active region should be faster, although less stable, than systems whose transitions are attended by large changes in carrier numbers.

A comparison between Fabry-Perot and travelling wave laser amplifiers in an 8 Gbps repeatered optical system using a time domain model

“…The devices are prevented from oscillating by a combination of operation below threshold. as in Fabry-Perot laser amplifiers (FPLAS), and a reduction of their facet reflectivities, as in travelling wave laser amplifiers (TWLAS) Optical amplifiers offer: (a) wide optical bandwidths, limited by the gain spectrum of the material in TWLAS and typically many THz [2]; (b) simplicity, leading to reliability which is particularly useful in submarine repeaters; (c) small size, low power consumption, good optical coupling and ruggedness; (d) low noise, offering better performance than photodiodeonly receivers at high bit rates [3]; (e) the possibility of bistability in FPLAS [4].…”