Abstract
The unique feature of directional bistability1 makes semiconductor ring lasers (SRLs) attractive candidates for optical logic, optical switch, and optical memory applications2, as the switching between the two stable lasing directions represents a truly ‘digital’ optical response. This switching can be triggered by externally injected short optical pulses resonant with a cavity mode in the previously non-lasing direction, as shown in Fig.l, which starts a mode competition process favoring the non-lasing direction. The speed of this mode competition and waveform of any accompanying transient is very important for above mentioned all-optical applications that are being investigated in the EU FP6 TOLOS’ project. To the best of our knowledge, this paper reports the first research into SRL switching dynamics.
© 2007 IEEE
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