1 Tb/s high quality factor NOR gate based on quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifier

The performance of all-optical logic gate NOR has been simulated. NOR operation is realized by using Mach-Zehnder interferometer utilizing semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) with quantum-dot (QD) active region. Nonlinear dynamics including carrier heating and spectral hole-burning in the QD-SOA are taken into account together with the rate equations in order to realize the all-optical logic NOR operation. The study is carried out when the effect of amplified spontaneous emission is taken into account in the simulation analysis. Results show that the NOR operation is capable of operating at a data speed of 1 Tb/s with high output quality factor (Q-factor). The dependence of the output Q -factor on QD-SOA parameters is also investigated and discussed.