HIGHLY REPETITIVE PICOSECOND POLARIZATION SWITCHING IN TYPE-II ALGAASALAS MULTIPLE-QUANTUM-WELL STRUCTURES/

We have demonstrated highly repetitive picosecond polarization optical switching operation of type-II quantum well structures at room temper ature. The switching mechanism is due to the fast GAMMA-X interlayer s cattering of electrons and the fast spin relaxation of holes. Accordin g to our experimental results, the switching time is less than 1 ps, t he switching power is as low as 3 nJ/cM2, and the switching repetition rate is more than 80 GHz. Moreover we point out the possibility of co ntinuous optical switching operation for future applications.