Non-linear photonic switch and method of making the same
View Patent ↗A photonic switch according to the present invention may be formed using one of a selected group of non-linear optical materials. Each of the materials within this group has a refractive index that demonstrates a substantial peak as a function of wavelength, where the peak occurs at a wavelength distinct from the wavelength of the input signal. A method of producing a photonic switch according to the present invention includes fabricating source and drain waveguides using micro-molding or micro-contact printing processes, or MIMIC (micro-molding in capillaries) of a UV-curable polymer. If desired, a gate waveguide may also be formed in part by these processes. The photonic switch also includes a photonic crystal formed from non-linear optical material, which may be formed, for example, using a block copolymer and nanoparticle composite in a MIMIC or μfluidics process. Such a process may employ a functionalized mold material to align the blocks.
1. A non-linear photonic switch comprising:
a source waveguide for receiving an input signal;
a photonic crystal having a first side coupled to the source waveguide, a second side, and a third side;
a gate waveguide coupled to the third side of the photonic crystal for receiving a gate signal; and
a drain waveguide coupled to the second side of the photonic crystal for propagating an output signal;
wherein the photonic crystal includes a first non-linear optical material having a refractive index that demonstrates a substantial peak as a function of wavelength at a gate wavelength.
2. The non-linear photonic switch of claim 1 , wherein the photonic crystal includes a plurality of alternating layers formed by an optically-linear material and the non-linear optical material.
3. The non-linear photonic switch of claim 2 , wherein a non-linear response of the non-linear optical material has a strong peak at the gate wavelength.
4. The non-linear photonic switch of claim 3 , wherein the non-linear optical material includes one of a polymer and a sol-gel host material having nanoparticles incorporated therein.
5. The non-linear photonic switch of claim 4 , wherein the nanoparticles include at least one of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles ranging between 5 and 50 nanometers in size.
6. The non-linear photonic switch of claim 4 , wherein the host material and the nanoparticles form a homogenous composite.
7. The non-linear photonic switch of claim 3 , wherein the non-linear response of the non-linear optical material has a strong peak only at the gate wavelength.
8. The non-linear photonic switch of claim 3 , wherein the non-linear optical material includes glass having a minority concentration of at least one of metal, semiconductor and metal salt particles.
9. A method of operating a non-linear optical crystal as a light switch, the non-linear optical crystal having a non-linear response that has a strong peak at a gate wavelength, the method comprising:
selectively applying a gate signal near to the gate wavelength transverse to a main direction of light propagation;
selectively transmitting light of a range of wavelengths along the main direction of light propagation depending upon whether the gate signal is applied.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein an intensity of a propagated output signal is dependent upon an intensity of the gate signal.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the intensity of the output signal exhibits a gain with respect to the intensity of the gate signal.