Theoretical Design of a Pump‐Free Ultrahigh Efficiency All‐Optical Switching Based on a Defect Ring Optical Waveguide Network. Issue 2 (10th January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Jiaye; Yang, Xiangbo
• Is Part Of: Annalen der Physik. Volume 531:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2019-01-10
• Subjects: all‐optical switching -- nonlinear optics -- pump‐free -- ultrafast optics -- ultrahigh efficiency -- waveguide network; Physics -- Periodicals; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 530.05
• DOI: 10.1002/andp.201800258
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-3804

Abstract

Abstract: A theoretical design of a defect ring optical waveguide network is proposed to construct a pump‐free ultrahigh efficiency all‐optical switch. This switch creates ultrastrong photonic localization and causes the nonlinear dielectric in the defect waveguide to intensely respond. At its ON state, this material defect without Kerr response helps to produce a pair of sharp pass bands in the transmission spectrum to form the dual channel of the all‐optical switch. When it is switched to its OFF state, the strong Kerr response induced refractive index change in the high nonlinear defect waveguide strongly alters the spectrum, leading to a collapse of the dual channels. Network equation and generalized eigenfunction method are used to numerically calculate the optical properties of the switch and obtain a threshold control energy of about 2.90 zJ, which is eight orders of magnitude lower than previously reported. The switching efficiency/transmission ratio exceeds 3× 10 11, which is six orders of magnitude larger than previously reported. The state transition time is nearly 108 fs, which is approximately two orders of magnitude faster than the previously reported shortest time. Furthermore, the switch size can be much smaller than 2.6 µm and will be suitable for integration. Abstract : A pump‐free ultrahigh efficiency all‐optical switch based on a defect ring optical waveguide network is theoretically proposed, in which a Kerr effect–based new switching mechanism is introduced. It is numerically investigated that this compact design possesses ultralow threshold energy, ultrahigh transmission ratio, and ultrafast state transition. It provides a novel technique for designing pump‐free all‐optical switches with significant features.