Absorption Dynamics in All-Optical Switch Based on Intersubband Transition in InGaAs–AlAs–AlAsSb Coupled Quantum Wells

Abstract

We developed a pigtailed fiber module including an intersubband transition all-optical switch using InGaAs-AlAs-AlAsSb coupled double quantum wells and studied the absorption saturation dynamics. An increased extinction ratio was obtained by optimizing the delay time between control and signal pulses due to the reduced effect of two-photon absorption. An extinction ratio of 10 dB was obtained for a fiber input pulse energy of 16 pJ (200-fs pulsewidth). The absorption recovery time varied from 600 fs to 2 ps depending on the control pulse energy