Nonlinear ultrafast switching based on soliton self-trapping in dual-core photonic crystal fibre

Abstract

In this paper, we present a systematic numerical study of a novel ultrafast nonlinear switching concept based on soliton self-trapping in dual-core (DC) photonic crystal fibre (PCF). The geometrical parameters of highly-nonlinear (HN) DC microstructure are optimized with regard to desired linear and nonlinear propagation characteristics. The comparable magnitude of fibre coupling length and soliton period is identified as a key condition for presented switching concept. The optimized DC PCF design is subjected to detailed nonlinear numerical study. Complex temporal-spectral-spatial transformations of 100 fs hyperbolic secant pulse at 1550 nm in the DC PCF are studied numerically employing a model based on coupled generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equations solved by a split-step Fourier method. For the optimized DC structure, mutual interplay of solitonic and coupling processes gives rise to nonlinear switching of self-trapped soliton. The output channel (fibre core) for the generated soliton can be controlled via the input pulse energy. For vertical polarization, the optimal soliton switching with extinction ratio contrast of 32.4 dB at 10.75 mm propagation distance is achieved. Even better switching contrast of 34.8 dB can be achieved for horizontal polarization at optimal propagation distance of 10.25 mm. Besides energy-controlled soliton self-trapping switching, the fibre supports also nonlinear polarization switching with soliton switching contrast as high as 37.4 dB. The proposed fibre holds a high application potential allowing efficient ultrafast switching of sub-nanojoule pulses at over-Tb/s data rates requiring only about 1 cm fibre length.