Cross-phase-modulation-based wavelength conversion using intersubband transition in InGaAs/AlAs/AlAsSb coupled quantum wells.

We report an ultrafast cross phase modulation (XPM) effect in intersubband transition (ISBT) of InGaAs/AlAs/AlAsSb coupled quantum wells, where the ISBT absorption of a transverse-magnetic mode pump signal induces phase modulation of a transverse-electric mode probe signal. Using waveguide-type ISBT devices, we have achieved XPM-based 10 Gbit/s wavelength conversion with a power penalty of 2.53 dB. Also, we propose XPM-based signal processing circuits for gate switching and modulation format conversion.