OPTICAL POWER LIMITER

摘要

An optical power limiter structure comprises an asymmetric waveguide showing a defocussing nonlinearity of the core region material. The structure comprises a cladding region layer 2 and a core region layer 3 grown on a substrate 1. The core region layer 3 upper surface is exposed to air. By using an optical signal of wavelength .lambda. slightly greater than the bandgap equivalent wavelength of the core region material, the structure exploits a defocussing nonlinearity of semiconductor materials in a manner enhanced by the asymmetry of the waveguide.