Open AccessOptical bistability in a silicon nitride microring resonator with azo dye-doped liquid crystal as cladding material
Author(s) -
Chun-Ta Wang,
Chien-Ming Tseng,
Jui-Hao Yu,
Yuancheng Li,
Chun-Hong Lee,
HungChang Jau,
Ming-Chang Lee,
Yung-Jui Chen,
TsungHsien Lin
Publication year - 2013
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.21.010989
Subject(s) - materials science , bistability , resonator , optical bistability , optoelectronics , cladding (metalworking) , optics , liquid crystal , refractive index , optical switch , silicon nitride , silicon , nonlinear optics , physics , laser , metallurgy
This investigation reports observations of optical bistability in a silicon nitride (SiN) micro-ring resonator with azo dye-doped liquid crystal cladding. The refractive index of the cladding can be changed by switching the liquid crystal between nematic (NLC) and photo-induced isotropic (PHI) states by. Both the NLC and the PHI states can be maintained for many hours, and can be rapidly switched from one state to the other by photo-induced isomerization using 532 nm and 408 nm addressing light, respectively. The proposed device exhibits optical bistable switching of the resonance wavelength without sustained use of a power source. It has a 1.9 nm maximum spectral shift with a Q-factor of over 10000. The hybrid SiN- LC micro-ring resonator possesses easy switching, long memory, and low power consumption. It therefore has the potential to be used in signal processing elements and switching elements in optically integrated circuits.