OPTIMIZATION OF THE OPTICAL SWITCHING CHARACTERISTICS OF 2-SECTION FABRY-PEROT LASERS

Bistable two-section Fabry-Perot lasers have been fabricated, comprehensively characterized, and optimized with respect to gain and optical switching contrast. Best device performance requires, first, the individual optimization of both section lengths, and, second, a proper choice of current conditions. Third, light has to be injected into the gain section instead of the absorber section to take full advantage of device qualities. Based on this optimization high, all optical switching gain (26 dB) and large contrast (18 dB) have been achieved simultaneously.