On the data rate extension of semiconductor optical amplifier-based ultrafast nonlinear interferometer in dual rail switching mode using a cascaded optical delay interferometer

The feasibility of increasing by a factor of two the data speed of the semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)-based ultrafast nonlinear interferometer in dual rail switching mode by means of a cascaded optical delay interferometer (ODI) is explored and shown through numerical simulation. From the theoretical analysis it has been found that such extension cannot be done without employing this passive element for any selection of the critical parameters but the SOA carrier lifetime, for which the requirements are yet very demanding. If, however, the time delay introduced by the ODI is adjusted to almost 1/3rd of the bit period, then the result of Boolean XOR operation can be improved for a specified range of parameter values, which can be further selected to be more relaxed than is possible when the ODI is not being used. The use of the ODI allows both error-free and pattern-free performance at the output of the interferometric structure configured as ultrafast XOR gate. In this manner the scheme can offer a practical alternative solution for extending the operating rate of this logical module and enabling its exploitation as a basic building unit in more sophisticated all-optical circuits and subsystems.