Open AccessKerr-induced all-optical switching in a GaInP photonic crystal Fabry-Perot resonator
Author(s) -
Vardit Eckhouse,
I. Cestier,
G. Eisenstein,
Sylvain Combrié,
Gaëlle Lehoucq,
Alfredo De Rossi
Publication year - 2012
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.20.008524
Subject(s) - resonator , fabry–pérot interferometer , optics , kerr effect , switching time , materials science , dispersion (optics) , wavelength , optical switch , photonic crystal , optoelectronics , four wave mixing , self phase modulation , modulation (music) , nonlinear optics , physics , nonlinear system , laser , acoustics , quantum mechanics
We describe nonlinear properties of a GaInP photonic crystal Fabry-Perot resonator containing integrated reflectors. The device exhibits an extremely large static nonlinearity due to a thermal effect. Dynamical measurements were used to discriminate between the thermal and Kerr contributions to the nonlinearity. The high frequency nonlinear response is strictly due to the Kerr effect and the efficiency is similar to that obtained in self-phase modulation and four wave mixing experiments. The waveguide dispersion and the wavelength dependent integrated reflectors yield a series of transmission peaks with varying widths which determine the maximum speed at which the device can operate. Switching and wavelength conversion experiments with 92ps and 30ps wide pulses were demonstrated using pulse energies of a few pJ. The switching process is Kerr dominated with the fundamental response being essentially instantaneous so that the obtainable switching speed is strictly determined by the resonator structure.