Operational Equivalence of Self-Switching Effect in SOA-based Nonlinear Polarization and MZI Switches

Analysis and detailed simulations show the operational equivalence of two semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) assisted self-nonlinear switches, namely the nonlinear polarization switch (NPS) and the SOA-Mach-Zehnder Interferometers (SOA-MZI). Under proper conditions, both switches, although physically different, have similar functional features, such as the power transfer characteristics, the gain and the phase difference.