Stopping of Light by the Dynamic Tuning of Photonic Crystal Slow Light Device

Abstract

We propose a simple technique of stopping light pulses using a slow-light device based on photonic crystal coupled waveguide (PCCW). Dynamically tuning the material index chirp in the PCCW adiabatically transforms slow-light pulses into stopped ones. We demonstrate this in finite-difference time-domain simulation assuming ideal and actual tuning of the index chirp. In the ideal case, the group velocity of the almost stopped pulse is reduced to 190 times smaller than that of simple slow light pulse. The smallest limit is affected by the timing error of the tuning between wavelengths. Re-ordering and stopping of a pulse train are possible by optimizing the device length and timing. As a practical tuning method, we discuss carrier effects induced by photo-excitation. Taking into account carrier distribution and free carrier absorption, the actual behaviors of stopped light are estimated. We define and evaluate an effective delay-bandwidth product, which is affected by free carrier absorption.