Self-linearized analog differential self-electro-optic-effect device

We describe, demonstrate, and characterize an analog self-electro-optic-effect device that gives a difference between two optical output powers that is linearly proportional to an electrical or an optical drive. Such a device should permit bipolar (positive and negative) processing in novel image processing arrays. The device is able to operate over a range of more than 4 orders of magnitude of optical power from 50 nW to 2.5 mW, corresponding to uniform incident intensities as low as 3.3 mW/cm(2). The frequency response (3-dB limit) varies linearly from 7 kHz at 1-µW absorber power to 3.5 MHz at 1 mW of absorbed powers.