Optical device with quantum well absorption

摘要

An optically bistable device 100 is disclosed having a self electro-optic effect device (SEED) 104 and a variable optical attenuator 103 for maintaining the state of the SEED over a wide power range of two input light beams. The SEED is responsive to the relative power levels of the two input light beams for assuming one of two states. The state of the SEED is determined by the transmission level of one of the beams passing through quantum well region 102 of the device. The variable optical attenuator concomitantly varies the power level of the two input beams to maintain the present state of the SEED over a wide range of input light beam powers. When operated in a bistable operating region of the device, a control light beam with a low power level changes the device from one state to another. Two threshold values of a ratio of power between the two input beams establish where the device switches from one state to the other.