Study of the Ultrafast Configuration and Efficient Performance Mechanism of SOA-MZI Switching Devices

In the present paper, the inference of Cross-Phase Modulation and Cross Gain experiments on InGaAsP-based semiconductor optical amplifiers and Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) switches along with a novel characterization method for semiconductor optical amplifiers MZI switches which combines a pump-probe measurement with an interferometer bias scan are shown. For the 150-fs input pulses, a strong spectral and distortions (Pulse shaped) of the signal pulse are observed prominently in the Pulse Overlap region. The refractive index nonlinearities and subpicosecond gain induce the pulse deterioration mechanism. Consequently the ONOFF ratio of the MZI switch is drastically reduced for the subpicosecond switching window. The maximum transmission through the Switching window, in the copropogation arrangement is hereby shown to be limited to about 1.5ps. Accuracy has also been experimentally verified by performing a wavelength characterization at the optimal bias point and a nearby, non-optimal point with an observed penalty of 1-dB.