Static Characterization of the Birefringence Effect in the Semiconductor Optical Amplifier Using the Finite Difference Method

Abstract

Knowing the various physical mechanisms of the semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) helps us to develop a more complete numerical model. It also enables us to simulate more realistically the static behavior of the SOA<sub>s</sub>’ birefringence effect. This way, it allows us to study more precisely the behavior of SOA<sub>s</sub>, and particularly the impact of the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) or the pump and probe signals as well as the optical functions based on the non-linearity of the component. In static regime, the SOA<sub>s</sub> possess a very low amplification threshold and a saturation power of the gain which mainly depends on the optical power injected into the active region. Beyond the optical input power, the SOA is in the saturated gain regime which gives it a nonlinear transmission behavior. Our detailed numerical model offers a set of equations and an algorithm that predict their behavior. The equations form a theoretical base from which we have coded our model in several files.cpp that the <strong>Language C++</strong> executes. It has enabled us, from the physical and geometrical parameters of the component, to recover all the relevant values ​​for a comprehensive study of SOA<sub>s</sub> in static and dynamic regimes. In this paper, we propose to make a static characterization of the effect of the nonlinear polarization rotation by realizing a pump-probe assemblage to control the power and state of polarization at the entering of the SOA.

Dynamic modeling of the birefringence effects induced in semiconductor optical amplifier for all-optical telecommunication systems

“…The polarization is a very important concept when studying the SOA component. This section is dedicated to the study of the modifications to be added to our static model [4] to take into account this polarization effect. The expressions of the coupled mode equations must be modified.…”

“…Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers (SOAs) are expected to become key elements in optoelectronic integrated systems and fiber transmission systems [1][2][3]. There has been considerable progress in exploitation of optical nonlinearities in SOAs [4][5][6][7]. Much attention has been paid to the nonlinear effect of birefringence induced in SOA [4].…”

“…There has been considerable progress in exploitation of optical nonlinearities in SOAs [4][5][6][7]. Much attention has been paid to the nonlinear effect of birefringence induced in SOA [4]. The effective refractive indices for transverse-electric (TE) mode and transversemagnetic (TM) mode are different form each other due to intrinsic birefringence in SOA and induced birefringence in SOA, thus the polarization changes in SOA for TE and TM modes [4].…”

“…Much attention has been paid to the nonlinear effect of birefringence induced in SOA [4]. The effective refractive indices for transverse-electric (TE) mode and transversemagnetic (TM) mode are different form each other due to intrinsic birefringence in SOA and induced birefringence in SOA, thus the polarization changes in SOA for TE and TM modes [4]. This change of nonlinear polarization in the SOA component will result in the appearance of optical logic gate characterized by high speed of response [8][9][10][11][12].…”

“…In this paper, we propose to make a dynamic characterization of the effect of the nonlinear polarization rotation in SOA by injecting into the component the pump and probe signals of different power and state of polarization at the entering of the SOA. Therefore, this paper is dedicated to the study of the modifications of our static numerical model to take into account the nonlinear effect of birefringence over time in the SOA [4]. Our detailed dynamic numerical model offers a set of equations and an algorithm that predict their behavior.…”