InSb devices: transphasors with high gain, bistable swtiches and sequential logic gates

InSb etalons operated at 77 K and illuminated by CO lasers (5.5 pm) exhibit continuous wave (c.w.) optical bistability. A wide range of experiments have been performed to further the basic characterization of these devices and to demonstrate their various potential applications. The latter include signal amplification, modulation and, with external switching, the construction of logic gates. Two devices on a single etalon have now been coupled to form a simple all-optical circuit. New results have also been obtained with InSb at room temperature with pulsed CO2 lasers (10.6 pm).