Analysis of switching windows in a gain-transparent-SLALOM configuration

Experimental and theoretical switching windows in an interferometric configuration with a gain-transparent semiconductor optical amplifier in a loop mirror (GT-SLALOM) are investigated. The amplifier gain and phase dynamics are analyzed in detail. For the gain dynamics, experimental and theoretical pump-probe results are presented. The phase dynamics is investigated theoretically. It is shown that the insertion of an optimized nonreciprocal phase shift in the GT-SLALOM configuration increases the contrast of the switching windows and, thus, improves the performance of the switch for demultiplexing applications. The influence of an asymmetric coupling ratio of the 3-dB input/output coupler on the switching contrast is also discussed.