Ultrafast coherent dynamics of a photonic crystal all-optical switch

TL;DR

This paper reports on ultrafast coherent dynamics in a nanocavity-based all-optical switch, highlighting the importance of coherent effects and demonstrating a new idler pulse phenomenon with potential for high-contrast switching.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical and experimental study of coherent effects in nanocavity switches, revealing oscillations of free carrier populations and the observation of an idler pulse.

Findings

Observation of an idler pulse in the nanocavity switch

Good agreement between measurements and theoretical model

Potential for high-contrast all-optical switching

Abstract

We present pump-probe measurements of an all-optical photonic crystal switch based on a nanocavity, resolving fast coherent temporal dynamics. The measurements demonstrate the importance of coherent effects typically neglected when considering nanocavity dynamics. In particular, we report the observation of an idler pulse. The measurements are in good agreement with a theoretical model that allows us to ascribe the observation to oscillations of the free carrier population in the nanocavity. The effect opens perspectives for the realization of new all-optical photonic crystal switches with unprecedented switching contrast.