Realization of ultrafast and low power all-optical switches using intersubband transitions in a novel InGaAs/AlAs/AlAsSb quantum well structure

We have dramatically improved the optical properties of extremely thin QWs required for ISBT devices operating at optical communication wavelengths using novel InGaAs/AlAs/AlAsSb QW structures with 4-7 monolayers (MLs) of AlAs. The intersubband saturation intensity (Is) was reduced to 3fj/μm2. This represented an Is reduction of nearly 3 orders of magnitude relative to the previous samples whether or not such sample featured 1 ML of AlAs interface layer. This paper reviews the recent results of novel InGaAs/AlAs/AlAsSb quantum well properties grown by molecular beam epitaxy, and discusses the linear and nonlinear optical responses of ISBT.