Anisotropic two-photon transitions in GaAs/AlGaAs multiple quantumwell waveguides

The two-photon absorption coefficient and induced nonlinear refractive index in both TE and TM modes of GaAs/AlGaAs multiple-quantum-well (MQW) strip-loaded channel waveguides are measured in the wavelength range from 1490 nm to 1660 nm. The two-photon absorption coefficient ranges from almost zero to 12 cm/GW, and the nonlinear refractive index is always on the order of 10^-13 cm ²/W in the wavelength window investigated. Strong nonlinear anisotropy is observed. The values of the two-photon absorption coefficient are obtained by calibrating the inverse transmission measurements. Those of the nonlinear refractive index are obtained by monitoring the signal spectrum broadening due to self-phase modulation. The wavelength dependences of the measured two-photon absorption coefficient and nonlinear refractive index are reasonably consistent with the theoretical predictions