High-Speed 2x1 Multiplexer with Carrier-Reservoir Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers

Abstract

Leveraging the rapid carrier recovery times and minimal polarization sensitivity of carrier-reservoir semiconductor optical amplifiers (CR-SOAs), this study embeds them in a Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) setup to emulate a 2x1 multiplexer (MUX) operating at 120 Gb/s. The focus is on incorporating AND logic gate functionalities into the CR-SOAs-based MZI structure to facilitate high-quality multiplexing. The proposed methodology utilizes the intrinsic gain and phase modulation capabilities of CR-SOAs-based MZI to effectively manipulate data streams. This innovative approach capitalizes on the unique properties of CR-SOAs, such as fast response times and low polarization sensitivity, to achieve optimal signal transmission quality and efficient multiplexing. To assess MUX performance, a quality factor metric is introduced as a comprehensive measure of signal integrity. Through exhaustive simulations and meticulous analysis, the study demonstrates the feasibility of achieving the desired data rate while maintaining superior signal transmission quality. The results underscore the efficacy of CR-SOAs-based MZI as versatile modules for high-speed multiplexing applications, offering unparalleled performance and efficiency. This research represents a significant advancement in understanding optical communication systems and provides valuable insights for optimizing signal quality and mitigating interference in practical real-world scenarios.