Fast and slow light in zig-zag microring resonator chains

TL;DR

This paper investigates a zig-zag microring resonator chain that can produce both fast and slow light effects, enabling tunable optical delays and a novel simultaneous pulse reproduction phenomenon.

Contribution

It introduces a new zig-zag microring resonator design capable of switching between fast and slow light regimes with tunable delays.

Findings

Reproduction of input pulse at multiple outputs in superluminal regime

Tunable delay range between fast and slow light regimes

Demonstration of both superluminal and subluminal light propagation

Abstract

We analyze fast and slow light transmission in a zig-zag microring resonator chain. This novel device permits the operation in both regimes. In the superluminal case, a new ubiquitous light transmission effect is found whereby the input optical pulse is reproduced in an almost simultaneous manner at the various system outputs. When the input carrier is tuned to a different frequency, the system permits to slow down the propagating optical signal. Between these two extreme cases, the relative delay can be tuned within a broad range.