Compact highly-nonlinear AlGaAs waveguides for efficient wavelength conversion

We report on the efficient nonlinear optical interactions in AlGaAs strip-loaded waveguides with a wafer composition specifically designed to increase the nonlinear coefficient. We demonstrate a broad-band self-phase modulation with a nonlinear phase shift up to 6 pi, and four-wave mixing with a 20-nm tuning range and signal-to-idler conversion efficiency up to 10 dB. Our samples are several times shorter than similar devices used for wavelength conversion by XPM and FWM in previous reports, but the efficiency of the observed effects is similar. Our experimental studies demonstrate the high potential of AlGaAs for all-optical networks. (C)2011 Optical Society of America