Wavelength conversion from silica to polymer optical fibre communication wavelengths via ultrafast optical gain switching in a distributed feedback polymer laser

Optical gain switching in polyfluorene-based red light emitting distributed feedback (DFB) lasers has been demonstrated by using 1.3 μm optical control pulses to directly modulate their output. An up to thirty-fold reduction in visible light output in the presence of the control pulses was also demonstrated, creating a novel switch that offers an effective wavelength conversion between silica and polymer optical fiber (POF) communication wavelengths. It was also observed that the laser dynamics can be more subtly controlled by tuning the temperature overlap of the laser pump and control pulses, which can allow adjustment of the output pulse intensity, temporal profile, and time delay relative to the pump pulse. The time delay relative to the pump pulse offers the potential for data re-timing which is an important function in communication systems.