Optical transistor action by nonlinear coupling of stimulated emission and coherent scattering

David L. Andrews; David S. Bradshaw

doi:10.1117/12.862258

7 September 2010 Optical transistor action by nonlinear coupling of stimulated emission and coherent scattering

David L. Andrews, David S. Bradshaw

Proceedings Volume 7797, Optics and Photonics for Information Processing IV; 77970L (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.862258
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

In the pursuit of improved platforms for computing, communications and internet connectivity, all-optical systems offer excellent prospects for a speed and fidelity of data transmission that will greatly surpass conventional electronics, alongside the anticipated benefits of reduced energy loss. With a diverse range of sources and fiber optical connections already in production, much current effort is being devoted towards forging optical components for signal switching, such as an all-optical transistor. Achievement of the desired characteristics for any practicable device can be expected to depend crucially on the engagement of a strongly nonlinear optical response. The innovative scheme proposed in the present work is based upon a third-order nonlinearity - its effect enhanced by stimulated emission - operating within a system designed to exploit the highly nonlinear response observed at the threshold for laser emission. Here, stimulated emission is strongly driven by coupling to the coherent scattering of a signal input beam whose optical frequency is purposely off-set from resonance. An electrodynamical analysis of the all-optical coupling process shows that the signal beam can significantly modify the kinetics of emission, and so lead to a dramatically enhanced output of resonant radiation. The underlying nonlinear optical mechanism is analyzed, model calculations are performed for realizable three-level laser systems, and the results exhibited graphically. The advantages of implementing this all-optical transistor scheme, compared to several previously envisaged proposals, are then outlined.

Citation Download Citation

David L. Andrews and David S. Bradshaw "Optical transistor action by nonlinear coupling of stimulated emission and coherent scattering", Proc. SPIE 7797, Optics and Photonics for Information Processing IV, 77970L (7 September 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.862258

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