Femtosecond all-optical switching in AlGaAs waveguides using a time division interferometer

Abstract

All-optical switching of femtosecond pulses in AlGaAs waveguides is investigated using a novel time division interferometric technique which eliminates thermal imbalances. In addition to an instantaneous refractive index nonlinearity, free-carrier generation via two-photon absorption produces a response of several hundred picoseconds duration.