Experimental investigation on slow light via four-wave mixing in semiconductor optical amplifier

Abstract

Optical buffer is a key component in all optical information processing systems. Slow light at room temperature via four-wave mixing (FWM) in semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) is experimentally investigated. Time delay of 0.40 ns is achieved for a sinusoidal modulation signal at 0.1 GHz, corresponding to a delay bandwidth product (DBP) of 0.04. Factors that affect the experimental results are discussed. It is found out that the variable optical delay via FWM in SOA can be controlled either electrically by changing the SOA bias or optically by varying the pump power or pump-probe detuning.

Keywords

optical communication / slow light / four-wave mixing (FWM) / semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by High Technology Research and Development Program of China (No.2006AA03Z414), the Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of Hubei Province (No. 2006ABB017) and the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in Ministry of Education of China (No. NCET-04-0715).

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