Polarisation Dependent Dynamics in Bulk Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers

Abstract

A free space contra-propagation set-up is implemented and a dynamic pump-probe study of the eigenmodes of a SOA in the picosecond regime is undertaken. The time-resolved probe transmission of the TE and TM modes of the device is measured for the co and cross-polarised cases as a function of pump pulse energy. The relative contributions of interband and intraband processes to the gain compression are studied, as well as the coupling between the TE and TM modes. The high gain compression due to intraband effects observed in the TETE case is of particular interest for ultrafast all-optical switching