Symmetric self-electrooptic effect device: optical set-reset latch, differential logic gate, and differential modulator/detector

The symmetric self-electrooptic-effect device (S-SEED), a structure consisting of two p-i-n diodes electrically connected in series and acting as an optically bistable set-reset latch, is discussed. Applications and extensions of this device are also discussed. The devices do not require the critical biasing that is common to most optically bistable devices and thus is more useful for system applications. They have been optically cascaded in a photonic ring counter and have been used to perform different NOR, OR, NAND, and AND logic functions. Using the same device, a differential modulator that generates a set of complementary output beams with a single voltage control lead and a differential detector that gives an output voltage dependent on the ratio of the two optical input powers have been demonstrated.< >