A passive all-optical semiconductor device for level amplitude stabilization based on fast saturable absorber

Abstract

A high-speed saturable-absorber-based device (response time below 2.5ps) providing a significant amplitude stabilization is demonstrated. The experimental results allow estimating that the amplitude fluctuations of the output should be reduced by about 90% compared to the input fluctuations, within the input power range of (5–18μJ∕cm2). This device has been studied in view of its possible use for bit-1 noise reduction. When combined with a state-of-art saturable absorber device, this could provide a simple and compact scheme for the complete reamplification and reshaping regeneration of digital optical signals.