Open AccessHighly flexible all-optical metamaterial absorption switching assisted by Kerr-nonlinear effect
Author(s) -
Yongkang Gong,
Zhiyuan Li,
Jinxin Fu,
Yuhui Chen,
Guoxi Wang,
Hua Lü,
Leirang Wang,
Xueming Liu
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.19.010193
Subject(s) - metamaterial , kerr effect , materials science , absorption (acoustics) , optical switch , optics , photonics , optoelectronics , dielectric , finite difference time domain method , nonlinear optics , photonic metamaterial , nanostructure , nonlinear system , physics , laser , nanotechnology , quantum mechanics
A three-dimensional metamaterial nanostructure for realizing all-optical absorption switching is proposed and investigated. The structure consists of dual metallic layers for allowing near-perfect absorption due to electric and magnetic resonances, and a nonlinear Kerr-dielectric layer for actively manipulating the nanostructure absorption. The finite-difference time-domain simulation results demonstrate that, by adjusting the incident optical intensity, the metamaterial absorption can be flexibly tuned from near unity to zero. The all-optical absorption switching structure can find potential applications in actively integrated photonic circuits for thermal sensing, photo detecting, and optical imaging.