Optical memory based on ultrafast wavelength switching in a bistable microlaser

TL;DR

This paper introduces an optical memory device utilizing ultrafast wavelength switching in a bistable microlaser, achieving rapid, low-energy switching with high contrast, demonstrated through numerical simulations of a photonic crystal microlaser.

Contribution

It presents a novel optical memory concept based on bistable coupled-cavity microlasers with detailed numerical analysis and performance optimization guidelines.

Findings

Switching times under 10 ps

Switching energy around 15-30 fJ

On-off contrast exceeding 40 dB

Abstract

We propose an optical memory cell based on ultrafast wavelength switching in coupled-cavity microlasers, featuring bistability between modes separated by several nanometers. A numerical implementation is demonstrated by simulating a two-dimensional photonic crystal microlaser. Switching times of less than 10 ps, switching energy around 15--30 fJ and on-off contrast of more than 40 dB are achieved. Theoretical guidelines for optimizing the performance of the memory cell in terms of switching time and energy are drawn.