All-optical switch with low threshold over a wide wavelength range by use of a Mach-Zehnder racetrack resonator

作者：Li Li^*; Li Junqing; Zhang Xinlu; Chen Lixue

来源：Journal of Optics A: Pure and Applied Optics , 2007, 9(10): 848-853.

DOI：10.1088/1464-4258/9/10/012

• optical switch
• nonlinear resonator
• Mach-Zehnder interferometer

This paper presents a theoretical investigation of an all-optical switch by using a Mach-Zehnder racetrack resonator. The switch can realize nonlinear optical switching between steady ON/OFF states at about 200 microwatt low threshold over a wide wavelength range. The finesse of the racetrack resonator is adjustable by controlling the coupling ratio of the Mach-Zehnder coupler. Some undesirable effects are discussed. Attenuation, group delay and partial coherence result in a switching power increase and an extinction ratio reduction. Optical bistability and instability do not limit the practical applications of the device in optical switching. A desired tradeoff between bandwidth/response time and switching power can be obtained by adjusting the finesse. Picosecond ultrafast optical switching is predicted.

• 出版日期2007-10
• 单位哈尔滨工业大学; 哈尔滨工程大学