Recent advances in SOA-based optical signal processing

摘要

I review mainly our works on optical signal processing using semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs). The combination of Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZIs) with SOAs and feedback loops makes an all-optical set-reset-type flip-flop (SRFF) for optical gate pulse generation, or a toggle-type flip-flop (TFF) circuit for DPSK encoder. We also present the development of the InP-based all-monolithic SR-FF circuit. In addition, advanced logic circuits such as error detection using convolutional codes or cyclic codes can be achieved with cascaded SOA-MZI-based optical exclusive OR (XOR) gates and feedback loops.