Design analysis of SOA-based UNI in non-trivial switching mode

Abstract

The feasibility of operating the semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)-based ultrafast nonlinear interferometer (UNI) in non-trivial switching mode is theoretically investigated and demonstrated using for this purpose a comprehensive model. By conducting numerical simulation the impact of the involved critical parameters on the Q-factor is thoroughly investigated and assessed enabling to extract useful design rules for their proper selection so as to ensure error-free performance at the desired output port of the specific interferometric arrangement. The obtained results may assist the study and implementation of all-optical circuits and subsystems of enhanced functionality, in particular with feedback, in which the UNI employing a SOA as the nonlinear element is the core logical module.