Guard time requirements for SOA-based electro-optical space switches and AM signals

The transient and steady state performances of optical space switches based on semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) switching an optical carrier modulated in amplitude through several switching techniques and operating parameters were characterized. The analysis was focused on the switch's guard time, resulting from the sum of its rise time and ringing time, and the switching amplitude, related with the modulated bits vertical opening when the switch is at on or off operating states and the switching pulse optical amplitude. The results point to the SOA optimum operating region, in relation to the analyzed parameters, which is defined by low bias current (between 60 mA and 80 mA) and high step amplitude (above 2 V).