A gateway to synthesis of all-optical devices of desired functionalities

Abstract

I propose combining of all-optical devices to produce an all-optical device that exhibits a desired input–output (I/O) characteristic (i.e., a desired functionality). There could be infinite distinct combinations of same/different all-optical devices of same/different parameters resulting in possibility of infinite number of all-optical devices with distinct I/O characteristics, and hence, the proposal presented here opens-up a gateway to synthesis of all-optical devices of desired functionalities. To give a few of examples in support of the proposal, I show certain series and parallel combinations of nonlinear Mach-Zehnder interferometers (NMZIs) to synthesize an (i) ideal optical switch (with step like I/O characteristic), (ii) optical isolator/optical stabilizer (iii) optical pulse generator (iv) optical power filter and (v) optical limiter. The analytical findings are verified using BPM simulations in presence of losses also.

Keywords

• All-optical devices
• Kerr effect
• Mach-Zehnder Interferometer
• Integrated optics