Experimental investigation of all-optical switching in fibre loop mirror device

Abstract

Nonlinear optical switching has been experimentally demonstrated in a monomode fibre loop mirror (Sagnac) interferometer using both Q-switched and CW-mode locked pulses of a Nd: YAG laser at 1.32 µm. The switching crossover for a 25 m loop occurs at 22 W. It has been shown that incomplete switching occurs due to pulse shape effects. The presence of Raman scattering results in a step-like, rather than periodic, response.