High-repetition operation of a symmetric Mach–Zehnder all-optical switch

The high-repetition switching capabilities of a recently developed symmetric Mach–Zehnder (SMZ) all-optical switch are experimentally investigated. Using a series of four control pulses at intervals of 100 or 25 ps, nearly full switching is achieved at the corresponding intervals. The results experimentally show that the repetition rate, as well as the switching speed, of the SMZ all-optical switch is not restricted by the slow relaxation of the utilized high-efficiency band-filling effect.