Abstract
Nonlinear propagation experiments in GaAs photonic crystal waveguides (PCW) were performed, which exhibit a large enhancement of third order nonlinearities, due to light propagation in a slow mode regime, such as two-photon absorption (TPA), optical Kerr effect and refractive index changes due to free-carriers generated by TPA. A theoretical model has been established that shows a very good quantitative agreement with experimental data and demonstrates the important role that the group velocity plays. These observations give a strong insight into the use of PCWs for optical switching devices.
Highlights
Photonic crystal waveguides (PCWs) are known to exhibit peculiar propagation characteristics, such as strong transverse confinement and slow-light propagation
which exhibit a large enhancement of third order nonlinearities
to free-carriers generated by two-photon absorption (TPA)
Summary
Photonic crystal waveguides (PCWs) are known to exhibit peculiar propagation characteristics, such as strong transverse confinement and slow-light propagation. Self phase modulation in a AlGaAs PCW has already been observed [9], but the nonlinear behavior has not been related to group velocity reduction or local field effects. In order to clearly address optical nonlinearities enhancement, we choose a sample in which group velocity reduction with low dispersion and long enough interaction length can be achieved. C / 30 ) have recently been achieved in PCWs [10,11,12,13], we decided to operate with the well-known W1 PCW for which fabrication and characterization are well mastered In this structure a low dispersion value can be achieved in a moderate slow light regime The guides are obtained by omitting one row of holes in the !K direction and are 0.98 mm long
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