Optical Kerr gate switching of AlGaAs/AlAs multilayer structures without pattern effects by the two-photon resonant nonlinear response

Optical Kerr gate switching at a wavelength for optical fiber communication was demonstrated in an AlGaAs/AlAs periodic multilayer structure. The nonlinear optical response of AlGaAs at the two‐photon resonance was enhanced due to the large optical density of the transmission mode at the edge of the reflection band of the multilayer structure. We observed no absorption even by the two‐photon process and a very short optical Kerr gate signal less than 1ps without pulse pattern effects. It is expected that this two‐photon‐resonant nonlinear optical gate is useful for applications in high‐bit‐rate ultrafast optical switches in photonic networks. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)