Characterization of the Dynamical Processes in All-Optical Signal Processing using Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers

We present experimental investigations of the dynamical properties of semiconductor optical amplifiers and their impacts in the all-optical signal processing using semiconductor optical properties. We introduce ultrafast optical signal characterization techniques to fully characterize the gain and phase dynamics of semiconductor optical amplifiers. We elucidate a consequence of the slow carrier recovery as pattern-dependent phase noise in wavelength conversion of on-off-keyed signals. We also analyze the conversion of the phase noise into amplitude noise limiting the performance of all-optical XOR operation. Finally, the performance of all- optical wavelength conversion of differential phase-shift-keyed signals is presented with emphasis on regeneration of the phase information.