All-optical extinction-ratio enhancement of a 160 GHz pulse train by a saturable-absorber vertical microcavity

International audience; A vertical-access passive all-optical gate has been used to improve the extinction ratio of a 160 GHz pico-second pulse train at 1555 nm. An extinction ratio enhancement of 6 dB is observed within an 8 nm bandwidth. Such a device is a promising candidate for low-cost all optical reamplication and reshaping (211) regeneration at 160 Gbits/s.