Optical bistability and set-reset operation of a Fabry-Perotsemiconductor laser amplifier with two detuned light injections

Optical bistability in a Fabry-Perot semiconductor laser amplifier when two optical inputs detuned from the resonant wavelength of a semiconductor laser amplifier are injected is discussed. A split branch is found in the optical output versus input characteristics in addition to conventional optical bistability behavior. It is shown analytically and experimentally that set and reset can be achieved in the optical output of the semiconductor laser amplifier for each wavelength by applying two detuned optical pulses and using the split branch