Sub-pJ operation of broadband asymmetric Fabry–Perot all-optical gate with coupled cavity structure

Abstract
We report on all-optical gating characteristics of a novel low-temperature-grown asymmetric Fabry–Perot (AFP) device, in which improvement of performance with respect to conventional AFP all-optical switches is achieved by a short and coupled cavity configuration. Sub-pJ (∼800 fJ) operation is realized with a high contrast ratio (>10 dB) over a broad wavelength range (∼7 nm). Even for 250 fJ pump pulses, a contrast ratio of >6 dB is obtained over a 4 nm wavelength range.