Femtosecond semiconductor optoelectronic devices for ultrahigh throughput optical communications systems

Ultrafast optoelectronic devices are crucial for fulfilling the future requirement of network throughput to enter the 1 Tb/s to 10 Tb/s range. A variety of ultrafast phenomena in InP-based semiconductors are attractive for developing such new optoelectronic devices. This paper discusses the requirements of ultrafast optical communication and signal-processing systems and devices necessary for them. Recent advances in the development of ultrafast semiconductor-based optoelectronic devices, such as ultrashort pulse lasers and ultrafast all-optical switches, are described.