Ultrafast polarization-discriminating Mach-Zehnder all-optical switch

Abstract

We propose a polarization-discriminating Mach-Zehnder (PDMZ) all-optical switch. The switching speed of this PDMZ all-optical switch is not limited by the slow relaxation time of highly efficient incoherent nonlinearities. We demonstrate a squarelike modulation characteristic, which is necessary in most switching applications, at a switching speed (on-off time) of 40 ps. We also demonstrate ultrafast switching at a detector limited speed of ∼8 ps.