Polarization-dependent optical nonlinearities in fractional-layer superlattices

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Abstract
We measure the room‐temperature polarization‐dependent nonlinear absorption and refractive‐index spectra of a (Al0.5Ga0.5As)1/2(GaAs)1/2 fractional‐layer superlattice (FLS) structure grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. The anisotropic nonlinear effects between the directions parallel and perpendicular to the superlattice give rise to a nonlinear optical birefringence in the plane of the growth surface. From our measurements using a femtosecond optical pulse, we derive the magnitude and spectral shape of the nonlinear optical birefringence. We describe the basis of an all‐optical polarization rotation switch using the FLS structure.