Slow optical solitons via intersubband transitions in a semiconductor quantum well

We show the formation of bright and dark slow optical solitons based on intersubband transitions in a semiconductor quantum well (SQW). Using the coupled Schrodinger-Maxwell approach, we provide both analytical and numerical results. Such a nonlinear optical process may be used for the control technology of optical delay lines and optical buffers in the SQW solid-state system. With appropriate parameters, we also show the generation of a large cross-phase modulation (XPM). Since the intersubband energy level can be easily tuned by an external bias voltage, the present investigation may open possibilities for electrically controlled phase modulators in solid systems. Copyright (c) EPLA, 2008.