The dependence of an all-optical inverter derived from the negative nonline
ar absorption effect on both the modulation degree and frequency was invest
igated in erbium-doped phosphate glass using a 1.5 mu m laser diode. With a
decreasing degree of incident modulation, a reversed-phase waveform was ob
tained in the transmitted laser at modulation degrees less than 86%. The re
versed-phase transmitted waveforms were observed at modulation frequencies
from 10 Hz to 250 MHz and at wavelengths from 1530.0 to 1545.0 nm. The wave
length dependence of the negative nonlinear absorption effect agreed with t
he transmitted spectra for the erbium-doped phosphate glass. The negative n
onlinear absorption effect for 1.5 mu m can be explained by considering an
enhanced absorption model for a four-level system of the Er3+ ion.