Ultra-Fast All-Optical Memory based on Quantum Dot Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers (QD-SOA)

Abstract

All-optical signal processing is characterized by high bit-rate, power efficiency, high bandwidth, and transparency. All-optical logic gates are basic logic units for the alloptical signal processing implementation. Typically, all-optical gates are based on strong optical nonlinearities related in particular to semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA). We briefly review the state of art in the field of all-optical logic gates and all-optical memory. In the original part, we discuss the ultrafast all-optical memory loop based on the Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) with quantum dot (QD) semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) in each arm.

Quantum Dot-Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers (QD-SOA): Dynamics and Applications

“…In this section, we discuss the applications of QD-SOA in all-optical generation of UWB impulse radio signals [24,25], ultra-fast all-optical processor [27,28] and all-optical memory [29,30].…”

“…Usually, this memory consists of two coupled lasers switching the output signal between the wavelengths λ 1 and λ 2 [48]. We proposed a novel architecture of the all-optical memory loop based on the ultra-fast all-optical signal processor discussed in subsection 4.2 [29,30]. The block diagram of the all-optical memory loop is shown in Figure 10.…”

Performance Investigations of InAs/InP Quantum-Dash Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers with Different Numbers of Dash Layers

“…The study of QD SOAs and their applications have developed quickly in recent years [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. QD-SOAs are excellent candidates for high-speed optical and wireless transmission applications due to their ultrafast gain dynamics and pattern effect-free amplification [2,3,12].…”

“…An all-optical method of impulse radio ultra-wideband pulse generation based on an integrated Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) with QD-SOA was investigated [13]. Using QD-SOAs for ultra-fast all-optical signal processing [14], all-optical memory [15], and variable optical delays [16] was proposed. Optical gain engineering of an ultra-broadband InGaAs/AlAs solution-processed QD-SOA was investigated in [17].…”