Error-Free 10-Gb/s All-Optical Switching Based on a Bidirectional SRL With Miniaturized Retro-Reflector Cavity

The retro-reflector structure of semiconductor ring laser (RR-SRL) has been further miniaturized by redesigning its total-internal-reflection parabolic mirrors. The SRL device with new RR structures is fabricated successfully and identical output properties have been observed from the clockwise and the counterclockwise directions. The static stably switching and locking regions of both the main-mode and first sidemode have been measured, which are ~ 5 and ~ 6 GHz, respectively. The fast switching speed of ~ 40 ps and error-free 10-Gb/s all-optical switching is achieved, which confirms the potential of these SRLs for high-speed all-optical digital applications.