Ultrafast all-optical switching in a three-dimensional photonic crystal

Abstract

Ultrafast (30 fs) all-optical switching of the reflectivity in an opal–Si three-dimensional photonic crystal is demonstrated in the visible and the near-infrared spectral range. Photoinduced changes turn out to be enhanced around the photonic stop bands and reach 46% at high excitation power. We show that the switching time is as short as 30 fs and is determined by the pump–pulse duration.