Microcavity-coupled optical Stark effect: Application to ultrafast all-optical modulation

Abstract

We propose a modeling of the microcavity-coupled optical Stark effect that we compare to degenerate pump-probe experimental results obtained at room temperature on a bulk GaAs microcavity. The cavity energy mode is adjusted 15 meV below the edge of the GaAs bandgap. With a pump intensity as low as 0.4 MW/cm2, we could demonstrate an instantaneous reflectivity modulation with a 5:1 contrast ratio. The good agreement between experiment and modeling is promising to design structures well suited to all-optical modulation with low switching intensities.