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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 233901 |
| Journal | Physical Review Letters |
| Volume | 117 |
| Issue number | 23 |
| ISSN | 0031-9007 |
| Publication status | Published - 2016 |
Keywords
- Photonic bandgap materials
- Optical switches
- Nanophotonic devices and technology
- Ultrafast optical techniques
- Laser beam modulation, pulsing and switching; mode locking and tuning
- Optical materials
- nanophotonics
- optical pulse generation
- optical pumping
- optical switches
- photonic crystals
- free carrier population
- idler pulse
- fast coherent temporal dynamics
- nanocavity dynamics
- pump-probe measurements
- photonic crystal all-optical switch
- ultrafast coherent dynamics