Ultrafast Optical Switches And Wavelength Division Multiplexing (Wdm) Amplifiers Based On Bismuth Oxide Glasses

Glasses with a high refractive index exhibit interesting properties. All optical switching and broadband amplification performances have been demonstrated using glasses based on bismuth oxide (Bi203). Optical Kerr shutter (OKS) switching and degenerated four-wave mixing experiments for nonresonant-type Bi203-B203-Si02 glasses have been performed using femtosecond lasers. This glass exhibits an ultra-fast response in OKS operation. Moreover, terahertz-range optical switching has been successfully performed with this glass, using a 1.5-THz pulse train.