All-optical switching in a nonlinear periodic-waveguide structure

Abstract

We report what we believe is the first observation of all-optical switching in a nonlinear periodic-waveguide structure. Measurements on the silicon-on-insulator waveguides were taken at 1.064 μm and at energies ranging from 1 to 18 μJ/pulse using a Nd:YAG pulsed laser. The measurements confirm theoretical predictions of bistability at low intensities with unstable dynamics at higher pulse energies.