WAVELENGTH CONVERSION IN A QUANTUM-WELL POLARIZATION-INSENSITIVE AMPLIFIER

Polarization insensitivity of the gain saturation properties of a 1.3 mum semiconductor amplifier with tensile and compressive strain quantu m well active region are used to demonstrate a WDM wavelength conversi on configuration in which the outputs at the two wavelengths are separ ated on the basis of polarization. Use of orthogonal polarizations all ows operation of a wavelength converter without an optical frequency f ilter at the output. Alternatively, inherent polarization insensitivit y of the device can be used for wavelength conversion of an arbitraril y polarized signal.