Dynamically reconfigurable optical amplification element

A wavelength converter for modulating a first light beam having a first wavelength in accordance with data carried in a second light beam having a second wavelength to output a third light beam having the first wavelength and carrying the data, the wavelength converter comprising:

• an interferometer, having a gate, for receiving the first and second light beams and for causing the first and second light beams to interfere in the gate to modulate the first light beam in accordance with the data carried in the second light beam;
• and
• an optical amplifier disposed in the gate, the amplifier being controllable to vary a gain spectrum of the amplifier for different values of the first wavelength, the amplifier comprising:
• a semiconductor quantum well structure having a quantum well active region whose effective bandgap properties are modified by rapid thermal annealing for controlled diffusion of defects into the quantum well active region such that the semiconductor quantum well structure functions as the optical amplifier with the gain spectrum;
• and
• an electrode for applying a current to the semiconductor quantum well structure to control the gain spectrum.

A method of making an optical amplification element for amplifying light, the method comprising:

• (a) forming, in a semiconductor quantum well structure, a quantum well active region;
• (b) modifying effective bandgap properties in the quantum well active region by rapid thermal annealing for controlled diffusion of defects into the quantum well active region so that the effective bandgap properties cause the quantum well active region to function as an optical amplifier with a gain spectrum;
• and
• (c) providing an electrode in electrical communication with the quantum well active region.

A method of modulating a first light beam having a first wavelength in accordance with data carried in a second light beam having a second wavelength to output a third light beam having the first wavelength and carrying the data;

• the method comprising:
• (a) providing an interferometer, having a gate, for receiving the first and second light beams and for causing the first and second light beams to interfere in the gate to modulate the first light beam in accordance with the data carried in the second light beam;
• (b) providing an optical amplifier disposed in the gate, the amplifier being controllable to vary a gain spectrum of the amplifier for different values of the first wavelength, the amplifier comprising:
• a semiconductor quantum well structure having a quantum well active region whose effective bandgap properties are modified by rapid thermal annealing for controlled diffusion of defects into the quantum well active region such that the semiconductor quantum well structure functions as the optical amplifier with the gain spectrum;
• and
• an electrode for applying a current to the semiconductor quantum well structure to control the gain spectrum;
• and
• (c) injecting the first and second light beams into the interferometer such that the first light beam is modulated in the gate in accordance with the data carried in the second light beam, and wherein the first light beam is amplified in the optical amplifier.