Photonic switch using surface-emitting laser diode and APD

Abstract

A very sensitive photonic switch is proposed by integrating vertically an avalanche photodiode (APD) and a surface-emitting laser diode (VCSEL). The switch requires a very low input optical power of /spl sim/1 nW, and emits a large output of several milliwatts. Both optical and electrical feedback from the VCSEL to the APD are taken into account. A closed-form expression for the switching characteristics is obtained. The dynamics of optical switching is analyzed using a small-signal stability analysis.