Nonlinear and bistable behavior of an ultrahigh-Q GaAs photonic crystal nanocavity

Abstract

The authors investigate the nonlinear and bistable behavior of a high-Q GaAs photonic crystal heterostructure nanocavity, side coupled to a line-defect slab waveguide. The observations agree well with a model incorporating the relevant nonlinearities. The power threshold for bistable behavior is at least one order of magnitude lower than what is reported so far.