Demonstration of all-optical logic OR gate using semiconductor optical amplifier-delayed interferometer

All-optical OR operation has been demonstrated using a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and delayed interferometer (DI) at 20 and 40 Gb/s. The DI is based on a polarization maintaining loop mirror. Q-factor of the operation is discussed through the numerical simulations. The results show the OR gate operation rate is limited by the carrier lifetime and the input pulse energy. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.