Optical control of birefringence for loop mirror comb filter tuning using a semiconductor optical amplifier

Abstract

An optically controlled comb tuning was demonstrated by changing the birefringence of the SOA using a control light. Optical comb tuning was achieved by injecting a control light into the semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). It was found that as the injection power increases, a larger birefringence change was obtained. It was also found that when the distributed feedback laser diode (DFB-LD) was launched into the SOA, a shifting of the optical comb was observed. The approach enabled a number of all-optical applications in multi-wavelength communications.