All-optical loop mirror switch employing an asymmetric amplifier/attenuator combination

Abstract

For the first time a report is made on a loop mirror switch containing the nonreciprocal combination of a semiconductor laser amplifier and an optical attenuator. Self-routing of optical pulses has been demonstrated on 10 ns pulses with powers of <250 μW, within a 17 m loop. The model predicts the form of the switching.