Mach-Zehnder interferometer based all optical flip-flop

摘要

For the first time an all optical flip-flop is demonstrated based on twocoupled Mach-Zehnder interferometers which contain semiconductor opticalamplifiers in their arms. The flip-flop operation is discussed and it isdemonstrated using commercially available fiber pigtailed devices. Being basedon Mach-Zehnder interferometers, the flip-flop has potential for very highspeed operation.