All-optical switching in 2D silicon photonic crystals with low loss waveguides and optical cavities

• Published in: Optics express Vol. 16; no. 15; pp. 11624 - 11636
• Main Authors: Belotti, Michele, Galisteo Lòpez, Juan F, De Angelis, Sara, Galli, Matteo, Maksymov, Ivan, Andreani, Lucio C, Peyrade, David, Chen, Yong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 21.07.2008
• Subjects: Computer Simulation; Computer-Aided Design; Crystallization - methods; Equipment Design; Equipment Failure Analysis; Feasibility Studies; Light; Manufactured Materials; Models, Theoretical; Optics and Photonics - instrumentation; Scattering, Radiation; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted - instrumentation; Telecommunications - instrumentation
• ISSN: 1094-4087; 1094-4087
• DOI: 10.1364/OE.16.011624

A study of the optical transmission of low-loss W1.5 photonic crystal waveguides built on silicon membranes and operating at telecom wavelengths is presented. The feasibility of performing all-optical switching is demonstrated for W1.5 waveguides coupled with L3 cavities, systems amenable for incorporation in on-chip devices. Switching of waveguide transmission is achieved by means of optical excitation of free carriers using a 2.5 ns pump laser. Experimental results are reproduced by finite-difference time-domain simulations which model the response of the finite system and band structure calculations describing the infinite, ideal one.