Abstract

Although it is well known that the bandwidth afforded by optical fibers exceeds 1 Tb/s, the bandwidth of networks presently implemented is in the 1-10 Gb/s range. Considerable improvements are required in components used for modulation and demodulation of signals in optical communications networks. A central problem to be solved for the deployment of 100-Gb/s systems is the development of appropriate all-optical switches. A number of optical switches based on semiconductors, in which a control pulse gates a signal pulse, have been demonstrated. However, one of the main problems with switches based on semiconductors has been that while the switch may have a fast opening time, the closing time is very slow since the switch is open for as long as carriers (electrons and holes) are present in the material, limiting the bandwidth quite severely. In this talk we describe a technique which provides for fast closing as well as opening of the switch to give the required bandwidth.

© 1997 Optical Society of America