Theoretical Study of Assist Light Effect on XGM and XPM-Based Wavelength-Conversion Using SOAs

Kenichiro TSUJI  Takuya WATANABE  Noriaki ONODERA  Masatoshi SARUWATARI  

Publication
IEICE TRANSACTIONS on Electronics   Vol.E88-C    No.5    pp.973-980
Publication Date: 2005/05/01
Online ISSN: 
DOI: 10.1093/ietele/e88-c.5.973
Print ISSN: 0916-8516
Type of Manuscript: Special Section PAPER (Joint Special Section on Recent Progress in Optoelectronics and Communications)
Category: Optical Active Devices and Modules
Keyword: 
wavelength conversion,  semiconductor optical amplifier,  cross-gain modulation,  cross-phase modulation,  assist light,  

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Summary: 
For wavelength conversion based on cross-gain modulation (XGM) and cross-phase modulation (XPM) in semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs), a CW assist light is quite effective for acceleration of carrier recovery and reduction of pattern effects. We theoretically study assist light conditions both for XGM- and XPM-based wavelength conversion by numerically simulating eye-diagrams. Taking into account the spatial and temporal variations of carrier density along the SOA length, we successfully clarify the dependences of wavelength, power, and propagation direction of the assist light, and reveal the principal difference of response characteristics between XGM and XPM depending on carrier modulation.