Erbium-doped fiber Bragg grating based all-optical switch

All-optical switching in Er/sup 3+/-doped fiber Bragg grating was investigated. The response time is not limited by the radiative relaxation but by the cooperative ion interaction induced fast nonradiative relaxation in the high concentration Er/sup 3+/-doped fiber. A signal modulation depth of 37% was measured when a 300 mW of 1480 nm pump was modulated at 5 kHz.