4-input NOR gate using Cross Gain Modulation in a single Semiconductor Optical Amplifier

Miguel Cabezn1, Asier Villafranca1, Juan Jos Martnez1, David Izquierdo2, Ignacio Garcs2, Jos Pozo3 1 TOYBA Lab. Photonic Technologies Group, University of Zaragoza, Walqa Technology Park, 22197 Cuarte, Huesca, Spain 2 Photonic Technologies Group, CPS University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain 3 COBRA Research Institute, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5612 AZ Eindhoven, Netherlands
ABSTRACT
We demonstrate all-optical NOR logic operation of four data signals in one SOA. Exploiting XGM, wavelength multiplexing and optical filtering for signal discrimination, we purpose an implementation in which an all-one optical probe signal is modulated by the optical sum of four different data signals at 10 Gbps each. Data signals act as pump and reduce the gain of the SOA producing on-off keying of the probe and, hence, the NOR behavior. We derive the feasibility of a multiple-bit NOR from a simple XGM setup working at a wide range of pump power by means of a characterization with all-one RZ streams. High-resolution measures of the signals are presented to illustrate nonlinear effects and wavelength management. Signals traces are showed to prove logic functioning and 4-bit gate quality is reported by means of eye diagrams of the output signal for different input powers. Keywords: SOA, XGM, logic gate, NOR, nonlinear, multibit

1. INTRODUCTION
All-optical logic gates have experienced a growing interest through the last years, since the electronic processors are seeing little change in their speed and improvements are searched by increasing the number of processors instead of the processing rate. This is particularly critical in optical communications slowed down by electro-optical conversions. Whenever a packet arrives in a switching node has to be converted into electrical domain to process its header and back again into optical to be sent through the next link, which represents a bottle-neck in optical networks. However the much higher rates of optical processing would give a boost, not only to optical communications, but to any application that requires of data processing as well. One of the most promising devices in this field are Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers, which cannot compete with Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifiers in terms of linearity, gain a output power, but have been widely used for optical processing. They are small and relatively easy to integrate, and can produce strong nonlinearities without the necessity of using long spools of fiber. Inside SOAs, logic functions are achieved by exploiting different non-linear effects such as Four-Wave Mixing[1-3], Cross Gain Modulation[1, 4-7] and Cross Phase Modulation[8-10]. Such nonlinear effects make SOAs a nonideal solution for pure amplifying purposes, but have proved to be helpful for all-optical logic processing. Basic logic gates such as NOT[5], XOR[4], AND[5] and NAND[6] have been demonstrated so far using SOAs, which can be found implemented solely or in combination with other SOAs, in parallel or in cascade. Even optical bistability, syncronization and optical regeneration are becoming an important part of this research. Some examples of optical flip-flops can also be found in literature[11]. However, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first implementation of a 4-bit logic gate with a single Semiconductor Optical Amplifier.

2. XGM POWER REGIME

Cross Gain Modulation (XGM) is a nonlinear effect that takes place inside semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA) cavity: when both a high-power signal (Pump) and a low-power signal (Probe) are injected simultaneously into a SOA most of the carriers in the active region are used to amplify the pump, whereas the probe suffers from absorption due to XGM. If pump and probe are considered as logic signals modulated in amplitude, this behavior can be interpreted

as the logic function (Probe)AND(NOT(Pump)) and has been widely studied. There are two approaches when facing XGM setups: counter-propagating signals [4-6], showed in Fig. 1(a), and co-propagating signals [7, 12], in Fig 1(b):

Fig. 1: Basic Cross Gain Modulation setups

The main differences between both kinds of setup are the number of wavelengths they require and the devices used for signal discrimination. Counter-propagating setups allow the presence of both signals in the same wavelength but it requires optical circulators in order to separate the signals. On the other hand, in co-propagating setups signals are required to propagate in different wavelengths so that discrimination can be performed by optical band-pass filtering. We have chosen the latter considering simplicity and future integrability solutions (where circulators are still difficult to integrate). However, there is no difference between logic functions performed by either of them. In case Probe and Pump carry data patterns A and B respectively both setups perform the same logic function (A)AND(NOT(B)). An XGM characterizations done on the co-propagating approach modulating both carriers in amplitude with a 10 GHz clock, which is equivalent to a 10-Gbps RZ all-one bit stream, sweeping both input powers and measuring the output power. So the rest of section 2 will be referred to the setup in Fig. 1(b). Previous experiments with NRZ modulation showed differently-sized pulses depending on the length of all-one bursts, which made the logic gate strongly dependent on the data used to modulate the optical signals. RZ modulation is chosen because shows better behavior and is more robust against all-one bursts. In order to obtain the proper performance, bit synchronization between signals must be ensured. In this particular case, an optical delay line is used at the branch of the Probe signal before it is injected in the SOA. The SOA gain is modulated by the Pump and is inversely proportional to it. However, output power is also dependant on the Probe. If the Probe is too low, no output pulse will show up at the output, even when Pump is 0 and Probe is supposed to be 1. For that reason, a basic characterization for different Pump and Probe power has been performed to show the optimum power range for which an optimum XGM interaction can be achieved. Result from this test is a profile of signal suppression as a function of input signals; so output power is shown in Fig. 2 as a function of both Pump and Probe powers.

Fig. 2: Output power as a function of Pump and Probe powers.

The output is rapidly reduced as the pump increases: the lowest output power is achieved, as expected, for the lowest Probe and highest Pump. Roughly half of the graph surface, corresponding to black area shows an acceptable output power for the 0 level and we can consider Probe pulses to be enough suppressed. However, it is also necessary to have a relatively high Probe power in order to achieve a good 1 level at the output. Furthermore, the higher Probe, the narrower the transition area (dark grey); and so, the better quality the output signal will have. In the other hand, since data is presented as peak power, we can see extinction ratio of Pump signal as a range of powers contained in the x-axis: the higher the Pump peaks, the better its extinction ratio must be, so that its zeros get back down to the (white) area where output is high. If Pump increases too much, all Probe pulses will be suppressed, including those that should appear as 1 at the output. For that reason we consider the marked part of the graph where the optimum working point of our logic gate is more likely to be. This characterization of XGM in the SOA lets us set an initial power balance for the N-input setup. Previously mentioned NOR function is achieved by using a Pump signal which is the optical sum of a number of different data signals. This means total Pump pulses can show several different power levels. The key factor is that all those pulses must have the same effect over the Probe signal; so we take advantage of the wide range of Pump powers that can produce enough gain suppression in a simple 1-pump setup to make it work with more different levels.

3. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP OF 4-BIT NOR GATE

Once we have checked the range of power for which XGM is efficient, the NOR gate can be built. According to the previously mentioned function ProbeAND(NOT(Pump)), the pump is substitutes for the sum of 4 different data signals (A,B,C,D) and the Probe for a clock signal (again equivalent to an all-one bit stream); so that we get logic function NOT(A+B+C+D) = NOR(A,B,C,D). Fig. 3 shows the setup scheme for the 4-input experiment. Five tunable lasers emitting at different wavelengths are used as sources for the signals: four for the pump and one for the probe. The four pump signals are coupled into a fiber and simultaneously modulated by two cascaded MZ modulators: the first one to achieve a 10 Gbps NRZ data modulation, while the second one acts as a pulse carver to obtain a RZ codification. Up to this point polarization must be controlled in order to achieve good modulation in all carriers, but the rest of the circuit can be considered as polarization independent.

Fig. 3: Experimental setup of 4-bit NOR

After modulation, pump signals are amplified and separated throughout a WDM demultiplexer. Although bitwise synchronization between signals is maintained, a different delay is applied to each of them in order to get different effective bit patterns as they reach the SOA. Fig. 4 shows an example of pump component synchronization and the correspondent sum with different pulse sizes.

Fig. 4: Signal traces at SOA input and logic function output.

Even when all pump signals have the same pulse power, the total Pump will have at least four different pulse sizes, depending on how many pump signals are set to 1 at each bit beat. However, injecting all pumps with the same power is not deciding. The parameter that must be taken in account is the difference between the largest and the smallest pulse sizes in total Pump signal. It is necessary for the right functioning of the logic to show the same output for that whole range of pulse power. Otherwise output signal could be completely suppressed or, in the other hand, it could show different power levels for 0 bits with the consequent reduction of signal quality. Probe laser is modulated with a clock signal, obtaining an all-one RZ bit pattern. The coupling of all signals into the SOA is done via an WDM Multiplexer. It must be remarked that WDM Multiplexer and Demultiplexer are used in this particular method of generating the signals, but they would not be necessary if data patterns were generated independently. Then an optical coupler would be enough to inject them into the SOA. Best behavior turns out when Probe pulses arrive in the SOA slightly later than Pump ones, as seen on Fig. 4. Clock position can be controlled via an electrical delay situated at Mach Zender Modulator RF input. Finally, outcoming light from SOA is filtered and the only the wavelength left in the output is the Probe wavelength. Optical filter is not only aimed to separate Probe wavelength, but also contributes to final signal quality by filtering the ASE generated in the EDFA and SOA. Fig. 5 shows the spectrum of input signals measured with a highresolution optical spectrum analyzer, which helps to check every carrier matches a channel of the WDM and power balance between pump carriers.

Fig. 5: Signals spectra at SOA input

High-resolution measures of all signals at the amplifier output were taken as well to see how their spectra were modified as the go through it to and they are shown in Fig. 6. If compared to the ones in Fig. 5, the strong nonlinearities introduced by the SOA can be appreciated. Probe wavelength acquires the modulation from the Pump and new frequencies as well. The spectrum of all signals is broadened to more than twice their original linewidth, which means care must be taken when managing wavelength distribution. Moreover, some Four-Wave Mixing products can be appreciated at 1546.7, 1551.45 and 1559.4 nm. Although these products were relatively weak, Probe carrier is set at a wavelength separated from the others to avoid any possible effect on our output signal. These Four-Wave Mixing components might end up being a limiting factor if we continue increasing the number of pump signals.

Fig. 6: Signals spectra at SOA output

4. RESULTS
The first aspect to be assessed is the correct functioning of the logic gate. In order to check the behavior of the SOA as a 4-bit NOR, traces of output signal were taken and compared to Pump signal. NOR logic function means output value can only be 1 when all inputs are 0 and must be 0 when a pump pulse is present, no matter its size. Such behaviour is showed in Fig. 4. These traces are part of 27-long PRBS, however measures were taken with up to 231-long PRBS with no appreciable penalty on eye diagrams due to this length change. According to the logic function, output signal is expected to have much less ones than input signals, which reduces considerably its average power. Specifically, if we assume PRBS to have 50% of ones and zeros and so does each pump signal, we can expect output to have only 6.25% of ones. For that reason measures are presented in terms or pulse peak power. Once the NOR behavior was ensured, we proceed to evaluate signal quality in terms of eye-diagram aperture. Fig. 7 shows an eye-diagram of the output signal for an optimum power balance of input signals, which, as we will show next, turns out at 0.6 mw Probe and 2.5 mw per Pump carrier.

Fig. 7: Eye diagram of NOR output signal at high power regime

Although power required for optimum balance is relatively high, there is a relation between Probe and Pump powers for which a quasi-optimum output signal can be achieved. If we reduce input powers down to 0.25 and 0.065 mw for Pump and Probe respectively, or even lower powers, output power is also reduced but we can still have good output signal quality, as seen on eye diagram of Fig. 7.

Fig. 7: Eye diagram of NOR output signal at low power regime

This is an important aspect to consider since allows the logic gate to be implemented with other logic gates in the same setup. This wide input range implies great flexibility and allows cascading logic gates, because 0.6 or 0.7-mw pulses are large enough to act as Pump signal for other SOAs.

6. CONCLUSION
All-optical 4-bit NOR at 10 Gbps with RZ modulation was proved by exploiting XGM in a single SOA. Based on the range of power accepted by simpler XGM setups, the feasibility of a multi-pump setup is derived and demonstrated. Differently-sized pulses made up of the addition of different data signals, had the same effect over a smaller Probe when injected in the SOA, allowing good aperture of eye diagrams, and so, high quality of the output signal. Signal quality measures are presented for different input powers. Also high-resolution spectrum measures of signals before and after the SOA were taken to observe the strong nonlinearities in the amplifier behavior. Successful functioning of the purposed logic gate was proved comparing input to output traces. Eye-diagrams were taken of the output for 231-long PRBS inputs, showing remarkable signal quality. Although optimum output was achieved for relatively high input powers, the mentioned logic function was also performed at a low power regime and still showing good quality which gives flexibility to this logic gate and the possibility of integration in more complex experimental setups.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This work was supported by the funds of DGA and IAF for research at Walqa Technology Park, by the Spanish Comisin Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnologa through project CICYT-TEC200613907-C04-03/MIC and by the University of Zaragoza through project UZ2009-TEC-03.

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