title: Ultrafast, atto-Joule switch using fiber-optic parametric amplifier operated in saturation.
abstract: All-optical manipulation of signals carried by lightwaves is attractive because controlling the light directly can be more efficient, allows a multitude of signal formats, and can also prove most cost effective. We implemented a novel scheme for ultrafast optical switching using very small control energy that relies on the use of a saturated fiber-optic parametric amplifier. Approximately 19 aJ (150 photons) of control pulse energy was needed for 50% extinction of the signal which is three to four orders of magnitude smaller than in other all-optical switching demonstrations. This allows the consideration of novel practical approaches to implement all-optical switching devices and all-optical subsystems for telecommunications and other applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience Chalmers, Photonics Laboratory, University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden. peter.andrekson@mc2.chalmers.se
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Andrekson
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sunnerud
authors.forename: Shoichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishitani
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000669:Amplifiers, Electronic; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D055100:Optical Fibers