Steep and adjustable transfer functions of monolithic SOA-EA 2R regenerators

• Published in: IEEE photonics technology letters Vol. 18; no. 9; pp. 1067 - 1069
• Main Authors: Ohman, F., Kjaer, R., Christiansen, L.J., Yvind, K., Mork, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01-05-2006; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Absorption; Adjustable; Mathematical models; Noise; Numerical models; optical communication; optical signal processing; Power measurement; Quantum well devices; Quantum wells; Regenerators; Saturation; Semiconductor materials; Semiconductor optical amplifiers; semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs); Semiconductor waveguides; Semiconductors; Threshold voltage; Thresholds; Transfer functions; Voltage control
• ISSN: 1041-1135; 1941-0174
• DOI: 10.1109/LPT.2006.873359

Measurements and numerical modeling of a reamplification and reshaping (2R) regenerator demonstrate a steep power transfer function with adjustable threshold. The threshold can be adjusted more than 6 dB by simple control of the reverse bias voltage of the absorber section. The device consists of a semiconductor waveguide with alternating amplifier and absorber sections using quantum-well active material. The steep nonlinearity of the transfer function is achieved by concatenating several sections. We identify the saturation properties of the absorbing media, as dictated by the band-filling and field screening, as important for the observed transfer functions. The relation of the saturation powers of the gain and absorption sections is important for design optimization.