Abstract

Coupled nonlinear waveguides are basic components for all-optical signal processing. The existence and stability of states with no power exchange between the coupled waves (stationary solutions, nonlinear modes) is important for the switching properties of such structures. In this contribution, nonlinear modes of second-harmonic generation in symmetric directional couplers are analyzed with respect to their use for all-optical switching controlled by weak optical signals. Two configurations with pump and control at the fundamental frequency only and low output powers at the second harmonic are proposed. The first employs longitudinally varying profile of the wave-vector mismatch, and the second is based on induced upconversion/downconversion.

© 2002 Optical Society of America

Nonlinear refraction caused by cascaded second-order nonlinearity in optical waveguide structures

Roland Schiek
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 10(10) 1848-1855 (1993)

All-optical modulation and switching using a nonlinear-optical directional coupler

Anh Tuan Pham and Le Nguyen Binh
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 8(9) 1914-1931 (1991)

All-optical diode based on second-harmonic generation in an asymmetric waveguide

Katia Gallo and Gaetano Assanto
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 16(2) 267-269 (1999)

Nonlinear directional coupler in periodically poled lithium niobate

R. Schiek, L. Friedrich, H. Fang, G. I. Stegeman, K. R. Parameswaran, M.-H. Chou, and M. M. Fejer
Opt. Lett. 24(22) 1617-1619 (1999)

Effective lensing effects in parametric frequency conversion

C. Conti, S. Trillo, P. Di Trapani, J. Kilius, A. Bramati, S. Minardi, W. Chinaglia, and G. Valiulis
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 19(4) 852-859 (2002)