APPLICATIONS OF BISTABLE LASER-DIODES

A bistable laser diode with saturable absorber has three states: EL, lasing, and quenching states, which are controlled in sequence by light injection. Using these phenomena, we show optically controlled flip-flop operation. We also discuss a wavelength converter, optical inverter, optical exclusive OR, and other variety of optical logic functions by using the spectrally resolved light output from a single-longitudinal mode bistable laser diode. As applications to advanced optical systems, time-division photonic switching and optical drop operation are demonstrated.