Abstract

Among the most promising elements for digital parallel optical information processing are differential pairs of PnpN optical thyristors. We have shown very recently that these optical detector-generator type of devices can be switched-on in very short times (typical 10 ns) with very low switching energies (typical 40 fj of absorbed optical energy), while the problem of slow switch-off times, causing unpractical cycle times, was tackled using a double-heterojunction structure that can be completely depleted by means of a simple negative anode-to-cathode low voltage pulse. In this way PnpN thyristors with switch-off times of 10 ns became available.¹

© 1994 IEEE