Abstract

Use of the ultrafast pulse train from a semiconductor laser as an optical clock is advantageous for very high-bit-rate digital systems to minimize the difficulties of electromagnetic interference.^1,2 Specifically we have tried to fabricate an optoelectronic integrated circuit (OEIC) for demultiplexing the digital optical signal (~10 Gbit/s) into low-bit- rate electrical channels by combining an array of photoconductive (PC) switches with MESFET amplifiers based on GaAs IC technology (Fig. 1) and have demonstrated a time resolution of ±60 ps.³ A major problem is the best compromise of triggering sensitivity and response speed. For this purpose precise control of carrier recombination kinetics in photoconductive media is indispensable.

© 1988 Optical Society of America