Experimental demonstration of optical switching and routing via four-wave mixing spatial shift

Abstract

We demonstrate the shift characteristics of four-wave mixing (FWM) beam spots which are controlled by the strong laser fields via the large cross-Kerr nonlinearity. The shift distances and directions are determined by the nonlinear dispersions. Based on such spatial displacements of the FWM beams, as well as the probe beam, we experimentally demonstrate spatial optical switching for one beam or multiple optical beams, which can be used for all-optical switching, switching arrays and routers.