Open AccessAll-optical switch based on the local nonlinear Mach-Zehnder interferometer
Author(s) -
YawDong Wu,
Min-Lun Huang,
MaoHsiung Chen,
Rong-Zhan Tasy
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.15.009883
Subject(s) - optics , interferometry , optical switch , mach–zehnder interferometer , nonlinear system , physics , phase modulation , phase shift module , self phase modulation , cross phase modulation , modulation (music) , nonlinear optics , phase noise , laser , insertion loss , quantum mechanics , acoustics
We proposed a new all-optical switch by using the phase modulation of spatial solitons. The proposed structure is composed of the nonlinear Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) with the straight control waveguide, the uniform nonlinear medium and the nonlinear output waveguides. The local nonlinear MZI functions like a phase shifter. The light-induced index changes in the local nonlinear MZI make the output signal beam routing in the uniform nonlinear medium. The all-optical switching scheme employs angular deflection of spatial solitons controlled by phase modulation created in the local nonlinear MZI. By properly launching the control power and increasing the length of the uniform nonlinear medium, this device can be generalized to a 1xN all-optical switch. It would be a potential key component in the applications of ultra-high-speed optical communications and optical data processing system.