ALL-OPTICAL SWITCHING AND PULSE ROUTING IN A DISTRIBUTED-FEEDBACK WAVE-GUIDE DEVICE

Results of all-optical switching and pulse-routing experiments with a distributed-feedback multiple-quantum-well (MQW) nonlinear waveguide, operating at 1.55 mu m, are reported. The MQW material has been engine ered, through the controlled introduction of defects, to lower the car rier lifetime from 2.5 ns to 280 ps. The energy required for switching is of the order of 1 pJ or less, the switching time is similar to 600 ps, and the on-off contrast exceeds 17 dB. (C) 1998 Optical Society o f America. OCIS codes: 190.5970, 190.4390, 060.4510, 250.5300, 320.539 0, 050.1950.