EXPERIMENTAL DEMONSTRATION OF A RAMAN EFFECT-BASED OPTICAL TRANSISTOR

We demonstrate optical pulse switching and amplification based on simu ltaneous Raman and Kerr effects in a fiber-loop mirror. Stimulated Ram an scattering is shown to play a dominant role in the transfer functio n of the loop with highly germania-doped fibers, in agreement with the oretical predictions. Optical switching of a 100-ps signal pulse with an amplification factor of 10 was demonstrated in a 20-mol.% GeO2-dope d fiber. (C) 1998 Optical Society of America.