Article Abstracts | August 2007
The complete article appears in the August 2007 issue of Photonics Spectra. If you do not have a copy of this issue,
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Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers Light Up All-Optical Signal Processing
Tiny diodes are key to allowing light to interact with light.
by Dr. Alistair Poustie, CIP Ltd.
For many years, optics scientists have been looking for all-optical signal processing materials that enable one light beam to be controlled by another. However, most optical materials are linear and allow light beams to pass through without alteration.
The key to achieving all-optical processing functions is to use a nonlinear optical material where different light beams can interact. Of the many nonlinear materials investigated, one device has emerged as a practical solution for all-optical signal processing — the semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)...
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