Simultaneous absorptive and dispersive all-optical switching of a multi-section bistable laser diode

Observation of both absorptive and dispersive switching in a semiconductor laser device under a single light injection condition is reported here for the first time to the authors' knowledge. The effect of varying the amount of gain region bias applied to the bistable laser diode device tested has b een investigated, and the observed change in steady-state input-output powe r characteristics have been interpreted in terms of the nonlinear absorptio n and refraction in the semiconductor material. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B .V. All rights reserved.