Ultra-fast Optical Reconfiguration via Nonlinear Effects in Semiconductor Photonic Crystals

Abstract

We analyze different possibilities to control and modify the optical response of a photonic crystal via nonlinear effects induced by an external optical control beam. We consider two different nonlinear schemes in which such active optical control may be achieved. The first one is based on the second order nonlinear interaction within a one-dimensional photonic structure with a defect. We show that using a control beam at the second harmonic frequency we can induce important changes in the reflection and transmission of a signal at the fundamental frequency. In the second scheme, the nonlinearity is achieved via electronically resonant optical Kerr effect, through optical injection of carriers. We report on wide wavelength tuning of a non defective two-dimensional photonic crystal resonance observed in reflectivity. Moreover, we prove that the same structure shows different optical functions such as frequency shifting, switching, amplification and lasing, if it is used under appropriate stimulus. These very fast effects may be used for the design of an ultra-fast all-optical modulator or switching device to be integrated in a photonic circuit.