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Spectroscopy and wavelength conversion by four-wave mixing in semiconductor optical amplifers

Citation

Hunziker, Guido H. (1998) Spectroscopy and wavelength conversion by four-wave mixing in semiconductor optical amplifers. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/fcfk-7n73. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-01232008-143421

Abstract

The first part of this thesis is dedicated to the study of the physics of the four-wave mixing (FWM) optical non-linearity in semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs). We focus our attention on the polarization properties of FWM and spectroscopic measurements of ultrafast carrier dynamics in these amplifiers. The second part presents investigations of FWM applications in the context of high-speed optical communication systems.

The detuning and polarization dependence of the third-order non-linear susceptibility is presented with a model based on the density matrix formalism. Experimental verifications of the model for the polarization properties of the four-wave mixing are presented using an alternating compressive and tensile strained multiquantum-well semiconductor optical amplifier. The polarization selection rules are then used for spectroscopic measurements of the carrier dynamics in quantum well SOAs. In particular, we present new techniques to measure the stimulated carrier lifetime, the inter quantum-well transport lifetime as well as the intrinsic escape and capture time constants for quantum wells. The capture lifetime is further studied in a separate experiment involving wavelength resolved spectroscopy.

We then demonstrate that strongly saturated and long SOAs (1.5 mm) are very effective wide span wavelength converters. We present bit error rate measurements for 30 nm wavelength down-conversion and 15 nm wavelength up-conversion at 10 Gb/s. We also present an application of the polarization selection rules to generate a polarization independent conversion at 2.5 Gb/s. Then, we introduce two different configurations where we use a lasing optical amplifier with a fiber Bragg grating to enhance the conversion efficiency and simplify the converter design. In the first case, we used the laser mode as pump wave and in the second case the lasing mode is injection locked to the FWM signal generated within the cavity. Finally, we present a new paradigm to perform wavelength encoded logic operations on a byte-wide WDM bus. Again, we use the polarization properties of the FWM to perform the logic operations.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Engineering and Applied Science
Major Option:Applied Physics
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Vahala, Kerry J.
Thesis Committee:
  • Unknown, Unknown
Defense Date:12 May 1998
Record Number:CaltechETD:etd-01232008-143421
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-01232008-143421
DOI:10.7907/fcfk-7n73
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:305
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Imported from ETD-db
Deposited On:15 Feb 2008
Last Modified:16 Apr 2021 22:58

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