| 摘要 |
The present invention relates to a nonlinear optical time-division multiplexer and demultiplexer formed from a cascaded plurality of triggerable optical switching elements. In accordance with the present invention, an exemplary triggerable optical switching element comprises a nonlinear optical material disposed in, for example, a ring resonator arrangement. The nonlinear optical material exhibits an index of refraction which is a function of the intensity of the light passing therethrough. An exemplary switching element is responsive to two separate optical pulse streams, where neither pulse stream comprises a sufficient intensity to cause the element to switch. A trigger pulse is utilized which comprises a sufficient intensity to stimulate switching the output from a first optical pulse stream to a second optical pulse stream. An external synchronization means may be employed to adjust the arrival of the trigger pulse in the nonlinear material so as to allow the time-division multiplexing or demultiplexing to be achieved.
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