All-optical switch demonstration using a birefringence effect in a semiconductor optical amplifier

All-optical communications networks based on WDM and optical TDM require fast switches with a wide operation spectrum. Semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA) have been considered as promising candidates to fulfil this function because of their wide gain spectrum and possibility of being integrated with other optical devices. In this communication we discuss the birefringence effects that allow the implementation of an all-optical switch based on a noninterferometric principle that only uses a SOA and does not require integrated optics.