AlGaAs/GaAs p n p n differential optical switch operable with 400 fJ optical input energy

Abstract
Differential optical switching operation with an optical input of as low as 400 fJ (0.07 fJ/μm2) was realized by using parallel‐connected AlGaAs/GaAs pnpn optical switches. An improvement in the sensitivity of more than two orders of magnitude has been attained by introduction of a new operating concept. The electrical transient time was 10 ns, almost independent of optical input levels.