We report on a theoretical study of a refractive-index-change- (Δn-) induced phase shift enhanced by the low group velocity in an air-bridge-type AlGaAs two-dimensional (2-D) photonic crystal (PC) slab waveguide. The calculation was based on a three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain method for the design of a phase-shift arm of the 2-D PC-based symmetric Mach–Zehnder- (SMZ-) type all-optical switch. Δn was assumed to be induced by an optical nonlinearity of InAs quantum dots embedded selectively in the phase-shift arm in the PC SMZ. By changing Δn from 0 to −0.01 and −0.1 for an even guided mode in the triangular-lattice single-line-defect waveguide in the PC SMZ, we calculated a group-velocity-dependent phase shift as well as a band diagram and a transmission spectrum. The result showed that the phase shift is almost inversely proportional to the group velocity. Taking into account Δn of approximately −0.001 predicted for actual InAs quantum dots, we evaluated the length of the phase-shift arm, necessary for the π phase shift in the PC SMZ, to be ~100 μm for a group velocity of 0.031c and a lattice constant of 0.36 μm at a wavelength of ~1.3 μm, where c is the light velocity in the vacuum. The length of the phase-shift arm was significantly reduced because of the low group velocity in spite of the small Δn. As a result, it was found that the phase-shift arm can be designed short enough to achieve a compact ultrafast all-optical switch.

© 2004 Optical Society of America

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Citation lists with outbound citation links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article level metrics are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

Related Journal Articles

• InAs quantum-dot laser utilizing GaAs photonic-crystal line-defect waveguide (OE)
• High-precision optical interference in Mach-Zehnder-type photonic crystal waveguide (OE)
• Design of a high-Q channel add-drop multiplexer based on the two-dimensional photonic-crystal membrane structure (OE)
• Exact solution of resonant modes in a rectangular resonator (OL)
• Comment on 'Exact solution of resonant modes in a rectangular resonator' (OL)

Related Conference Papers

• Penalty-free error-free all-optical data pulse regeneration at 84 Gbps with Symmetric-Mach-Zehnder-type regenerator
• Widely tunable external cavity diode laser based on a MEMS electrostatic rotary actuator
• Low-Cost, polarization insensitive photodiodes integrating spot size converters for 40Gbits applications
• 45 GHz bandwidth-efficiency resonant cavity enhanced ITO-Schottky photodiodes
• MEMS electrostatic actuators for optical switching applications