Abstract

All-optical manipulation of signals carried by lightwaves is attractive because controlling the light directly can be more efficient, allows a multitude of signal formats, and can also prove most cost effective. We implemented a novel scheme for ultrafast optical switching using very small control energy that relies on the use of a saturated fiber-optic parametric amplifier. Approximately 19 aJ (150 photons) of control pulse energy was needed for 50% extinction of the signal which is three to four orders of magnitude smaller than in other all-optical switching demonstrations. This allows the consideration of novel practical approaches to implement all-optical switching devices and all-optical subsystems for telecommunications and other applications.

© 2008 Optical Society of America

Full Article  |  PDF Article

References

  • View by:
  • Article Order
  • |
  • Year
  • |
  • Author
  • |
  • Publication
  1. W. R. Boyd, Nonlinear Optics (Academic Press, New York, 1992).
  2. G. P. AgrawalNonlinear Fiber Optics (Academic Press, New York, 2001).
  3. R. H. Stolen and J. E. Bjorkholm, “Parametric amplification and frequency conversion in optical fibers,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 18, 1062–1072 (1982).
    [Crossref]
  4. J. Hansryd, P. A. Andrekson, M. Westlund, J. Li, and P. O. Hedekvist, “Fiber-based optical parametric amplifiers and their applications,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron 8, 506–520 (2002).
    [Crossref]
  5. S. Oda, H. Sunnerud, and P. A. Andrekson, “High efficiency and high output power fiber-optic parametric amplifier,” Opt. Lett. 32, 1776–1778 (2007).
    [Crossref] [PubMed]
  6. T. M. Monro, K. M. Kiang, J. H. Lee, K. Frampton, Z. Yusoff, R. Moore, J. Tucknott, D. W. Hewak, H. N. Rutt, and D. J. Richardson, “High nonlinearity extruded single-mode holey optical fibers,” in Optical Fiber Communication Conference, Anaheim, (Optical Society of America2002), paper FA1-1-FA1-3.
  7. S. A. Hamilton, B. S. Robinson, T. E. Murphy, S. J. Savage, and E. P. Ippen, “100 Gb/s optical time-division multiplexed networks,” J. Lightwave Technol. 20, 2086–2100(2002).
    [Crossref]
  8. A. M. C. Dawes, L. Illing, S. M. Clark, and D. J. Gauthier, “All-Optical Switching in Rubidium Vapor,” Science 308, 672–674 (2005).
    [Crossref] [PubMed]
  9. P. A. Andrekson and M. Westlund, “Nonlinear optical fiber based high resolution all-optical waveform sampling,” Laser Photonics Rev. 1, 231–248 (2007).
    [Crossref]
  10. P. Kylemark, H. Sunnerud, M. Karlsson, and P. A. Andrekson, “Semi-analytic saturation theory of fiber optical parametric amplifiers,” J. Lightwave Technol. 24, 3471–3479 (2006).
    [Crossref]
  11. T. Torounidis, P. A. Andrekson, and B. E. Olsson, “Fiber-optical parametric amplifier with 70-dB gain,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 18, 1194–1196 (2006).
    [Crossref]

2007 (2)

S. Oda, H. Sunnerud, and P. A. Andrekson, “High efficiency and high output power fiber-optic parametric amplifier,” Opt. Lett. 32, 1776–1778 (2007).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

P. A. Andrekson and M. Westlund, “Nonlinear optical fiber based high resolution all-optical waveform sampling,” Laser Photonics Rev. 1, 231–248 (2007).
[Crossref]

2006 (2)

P. Kylemark, H. Sunnerud, M. Karlsson, and P. A. Andrekson, “Semi-analytic saturation theory of fiber optical parametric amplifiers,” J. Lightwave Technol. 24, 3471–3479 (2006).
[Crossref]

T. Torounidis, P. A. Andrekson, and B. E. Olsson, “Fiber-optical parametric amplifier with 70-dB gain,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 18, 1194–1196 (2006).
[Crossref]

2005 (1)

A. M. C. Dawes, L. Illing, S. M. Clark, and D. J. Gauthier, “All-Optical Switching in Rubidium Vapor,” Science 308, 672–674 (2005).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

2002 (2)

S. A. Hamilton, B. S. Robinson, T. E. Murphy, S. J. Savage, and E. P. Ippen, “100 Gb/s optical time-division multiplexed networks,” J. Lightwave Technol. 20, 2086–2100(2002).
[Crossref]

J. Hansryd, P. A. Andrekson, M. Westlund, J. Li, and P. O. Hedekvist, “Fiber-based optical parametric amplifiers and their applications,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron 8, 506–520 (2002).
[Crossref]

1982 (1)

R. H. Stolen and J. E. Bjorkholm, “Parametric amplification and frequency conversion in optical fibers,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 18, 1062–1072 (1982).
[Crossref]

Agrawal, G. P.

G. P. AgrawalNonlinear Fiber Optics (Academic Press, New York, 2001).

Andrekson, P. A.

P. A. Andrekson and M. Westlund, “Nonlinear optical fiber based high resolution all-optical waveform sampling,” Laser Photonics Rev. 1, 231–248 (2007).
[Crossref]

S. Oda, H. Sunnerud, and P. A. Andrekson, “High efficiency and high output power fiber-optic parametric amplifier,” Opt. Lett. 32, 1776–1778 (2007).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

P. Kylemark, H. Sunnerud, M. Karlsson, and P. A. Andrekson, “Semi-analytic saturation theory of fiber optical parametric amplifiers,” J. Lightwave Technol. 24, 3471–3479 (2006).
[Crossref]

T. Torounidis, P. A. Andrekson, and B. E. Olsson, “Fiber-optical parametric amplifier with 70-dB gain,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 18, 1194–1196 (2006).
[Crossref]

J. Hansryd, P. A. Andrekson, M. Westlund, J. Li, and P. O. Hedekvist, “Fiber-based optical parametric amplifiers and their applications,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron 8, 506–520 (2002).
[Crossref]

Bjorkholm, J. E.

R. H. Stolen and J. E. Bjorkholm, “Parametric amplification and frequency conversion in optical fibers,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 18, 1062–1072 (1982).
[Crossref]

Boyd, W. R.

W. R. Boyd, Nonlinear Optics (Academic Press, New York, 1992).

Clark, S. M.

A. M. C. Dawes, L. Illing, S. M. Clark, and D. J. Gauthier, “All-Optical Switching in Rubidium Vapor,” Science 308, 672–674 (2005).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

Dawes, A. M. C.

A. M. C. Dawes, L. Illing, S. M. Clark, and D. J. Gauthier, “All-Optical Switching in Rubidium Vapor,” Science 308, 672–674 (2005).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

Frampton, K.

T. M. Monro, K. M. Kiang, J. H. Lee, K. Frampton, Z. Yusoff, R. Moore, J. Tucknott, D. W. Hewak, H. N. Rutt, and D. J. Richardson, “High nonlinearity extruded single-mode holey optical fibers,” in Optical Fiber Communication Conference, Anaheim, (Optical Society of America2002), paper FA1-1-FA1-3.

Gauthier, D. J.

A. M. C. Dawes, L. Illing, S. M. Clark, and D. J. Gauthier, “All-Optical Switching in Rubidium Vapor,” Science 308, 672–674 (2005).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

Hamilton, S. A.

Hansryd, J.

J. Hansryd, P. A. Andrekson, M. Westlund, J. Li, and P. O. Hedekvist, “Fiber-based optical parametric amplifiers and their applications,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron 8, 506–520 (2002).
[Crossref]

Hedekvist, P. O.

J. Hansryd, P. A. Andrekson, M. Westlund, J. Li, and P. O. Hedekvist, “Fiber-based optical parametric amplifiers and their applications,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron 8, 506–520 (2002).
[Crossref]

Hewak, D. W.

T. M. Monro, K. M. Kiang, J. H. Lee, K. Frampton, Z. Yusoff, R. Moore, J. Tucknott, D. W. Hewak, H. N. Rutt, and D. J. Richardson, “High nonlinearity extruded single-mode holey optical fibers,” in Optical Fiber Communication Conference, Anaheim, (Optical Society of America2002), paper FA1-1-FA1-3.

Illing, L.

A. M. C. Dawes, L. Illing, S. M. Clark, and D. J. Gauthier, “All-Optical Switching in Rubidium Vapor,” Science 308, 672–674 (2005).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

Ippen, E. P.

Karlsson, M.

Kiang, K. M.

T. M. Monro, K. M. Kiang, J. H. Lee, K. Frampton, Z. Yusoff, R. Moore, J. Tucknott, D. W. Hewak, H. N. Rutt, and D. J. Richardson, “High nonlinearity extruded single-mode holey optical fibers,” in Optical Fiber Communication Conference, Anaheim, (Optical Society of America2002), paper FA1-1-FA1-3.

Kylemark, P.

Lee, J. H.

T. M. Monro, K. M. Kiang, J. H. Lee, K. Frampton, Z. Yusoff, R. Moore, J. Tucknott, D. W. Hewak, H. N. Rutt, and D. J. Richardson, “High nonlinearity extruded single-mode holey optical fibers,” in Optical Fiber Communication Conference, Anaheim, (Optical Society of America2002), paper FA1-1-FA1-3.

Li, J.

J. Hansryd, P. A. Andrekson, M. Westlund, J. Li, and P. O. Hedekvist, “Fiber-based optical parametric amplifiers and their applications,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron 8, 506–520 (2002).
[Crossref]

Monro, T. M.

T. M. Monro, K. M. Kiang, J. H. Lee, K. Frampton, Z. Yusoff, R. Moore, J. Tucknott, D. W. Hewak, H. N. Rutt, and D. J. Richardson, “High nonlinearity extruded single-mode holey optical fibers,” in Optical Fiber Communication Conference, Anaheim, (Optical Society of America2002), paper FA1-1-FA1-3.

Moore, R.

T. M. Monro, K. M. Kiang, J. H. Lee, K. Frampton, Z. Yusoff, R. Moore, J. Tucknott, D. W. Hewak, H. N. Rutt, and D. J. Richardson, “High nonlinearity extruded single-mode holey optical fibers,” in Optical Fiber Communication Conference, Anaheim, (Optical Society of America2002), paper FA1-1-FA1-3.

Murphy, T. E.

Oda, S.

Olsson, B. E.

T. Torounidis, P. A. Andrekson, and B. E. Olsson, “Fiber-optical parametric amplifier with 70-dB gain,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 18, 1194–1196 (2006).
[Crossref]

Richardson, D. J.

T. M. Monro, K. M. Kiang, J. H. Lee, K. Frampton, Z. Yusoff, R. Moore, J. Tucknott, D. W. Hewak, H. N. Rutt, and D. J. Richardson, “High nonlinearity extruded single-mode holey optical fibers,” in Optical Fiber Communication Conference, Anaheim, (Optical Society of America2002), paper FA1-1-FA1-3.

Robinson, B. S.

Rutt, H. N.

T. M. Monro, K. M. Kiang, J. H. Lee, K. Frampton, Z. Yusoff, R. Moore, J. Tucknott, D. W. Hewak, H. N. Rutt, and D. J. Richardson, “High nonlinearity extruded single-mode holey optical fibers,” in Optical Fiber Communication Conference, Anaheim, (Optical Society of America2002), paper FA1-1-FA1-3.

Savage, S. J.

Stolen, R. H.

R. H. Stolen and J. E. Bjorkholm, “Parametric amplification and frequency conversion in optical fibers,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 18, 1062–1072 (1982).
[Crossref]

Sunnerud, H.

Torounidis, T.

T. Torounidis, P. A. Andrekson, and B. E. Olsson, “Fiber-optical parametric amplifier with 70-dB gain,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 18, 1194–1196 (2006).
[Crossref]

Tucknott, J.

T. M. Monro, K. M. Kiang, J. H. Lee, K. Frampton, Z. Yusoff, R. Moore, J. Tucknott, D. W. Hewak, H. N. Rutt, and D. J. Richardson, “High nonlinearity extruded single-mode holey optical fibers,” in Optical Fiber Communication Conference, Anaheim, (Optical Society of America2002), paper FA1-1-FA1-3.

Westlund, M.

P. A. Andrekson and M. Westlund, “Nonlinear optical fiber based high resolution all-optical waveform sampling,” Laser Photonics Rev. 1, 231–248 (2007).
[Crossref]

J. Hansryd, P. A. Andrekson, M. Westlund, J. Li, and P. O. Hedekvist, “Fiber-based optical parametric amplifiers and their applications,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron 8, 506–520 (2002).
[Crossref]

Yusoff, Z.

T. M. Monro, K. M. Kiang, J. H. Lee, K. Frampton, Z. Yusoff, R. Moore, J. Tucknott, D. W. Hewak, H. N. Rutt, and D. J. Richardson, “High nonlinearity extruded single-mode holey optical fibers,” in Optical Fiber Communication Conference, Anaheim, (Optical Society of America2002), paper FA1-1-FA1-3.

IEEE J. Quantum Electron. (1)

R. H. Stolen and J. E. Bjorkholm, “Parametric amplification and frequency conversion in optical fibers,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 18, 1062–1072 (1982).
[Crossref]

IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron (1)

J. Hansryd, P. A. Andrekson, M. Westlund, J. Li, and P. O. Hedekvist, “Fiber-based optical parametric amplifiers and their applications,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron 8, 506–520 (2002).
[Crossref]

IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. (1)

T. Torounidis, P. A. Andrekson, and B. E. Olsson, “Fiber-optical parametric amplifier with 70-dB gain,” IEEE Photon. Technol. Lett. 18, 1194–1196 (2006).
[Crossref]

J. Lightwave Technol. (2)

Laser Photonics Rev. (1)

P. A. Andrekson and M. Westlund, “Nonlinear optical fiber based high resolution all-optical waveform sampling,” Laser Photonics Rev. 1, 231–248 (2007).
[Crossref]

Opt. Lett. (1)

Science (1)

A. M. C. Dawes, L. Illing, S. M. Clark, and D. J. Gauthier, “All-Optical Switching in Rubidium Vapor,” Science 308, 672–674 (2005).
[Crossref] [PubMed]

Other (3)

W. R. Boyd, Nonlinear Optics (Academic Press, New York, 1992).

G. P. AgrawalNonlinear Fiber Optics (Academic Press, New York, 2001).

T. M. Monro, K. M. Kiang, J. H. Lee, K. Frampton, Z. Yusoff, R. Moore, J. Tucknott, D. W. Hewak, H. N. Rutt, and D. J. Richardson, “High nonlinearity extruded single-mode holey optical fibers,” in Optical Fiber Communication Conference, Anaheim, (Optical Society of America2002), paper FA1-1-FA1-3.

Cited By

OSA participates in Crossref's Cited-By Linking service. Citing articles from OSA journals and other participating publishers are listed here.

Alert me when this article is cited.


Figures (3)

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.

Principle setup of the optical switch. ECL: external cavity laser, PM: phase modulator, EDFA: Erbium-doped fiber amplifier, OBPF: optical band-pass filter, OSA: optical spectrum analyzer.

Download Full Size | PPT Slide | PDF

Fig 2.
Fig 2.

Output signal power as a function of input control power, operating in CW mode.

Download Full Size | PPT Slide | PDF

Fig 3.
Fig 3.

ER as a function of input control signal pulse energy. Dashed line is simulated result. Insets show the measured switched pulses at 3 dB and 13 dB ER.

Download Full Size | PPT Slide | PDF

Metrics