All-Optical Switch With Cascaded Two-Stage Mach–Zehnder Interferometers Using Saturable Absorption Accompanied by Refractive-Index Change in Graphene

Author

Takahashi, Masaharu ; Kishikawa, Hiroki ; Goto, Nasato ; Yanagiya, Shin-ichiro

Author_Institution

Dept. of Opt. Sci. & Technol., Univ. of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan

Volume

32

Issue

21

fYear

2014

fDate

Nov.1, 1 2014

Firstpage

4226

Lastpage

4232

Abstract

An all-optical switch using saturable absorption that accompanies refractive-index change such as in graphene films is proposed. The switching conditions are theoretically derived for arbitrary values of absorption and refractive-index change. It is found that switching can be performed by weaker control light when the refractive-index change is accompanied in saturable absorption. Switching conditions for various combinations of absorption and refractive-index change are confirmed by FD-BPM simulation. The saturable absorption and refractive-index change in multilayered graphene sheets are also discussed based on reported experimental results.

Keywords

Mach-Zehnder interferometers; graphene; integrated optics; optical materials; optical multilayers; optical saturable absorption; optical switches; refractive index; C; FD-BPM simulation; all-optical switch; cascaded two-stage Mach-Zehnder interferometers; graphene films; multilayered graphene sheets; refractive-index change; saturable absorption; switching conditions; weaker control light; Absorption; Graphene; Optical attenuators; Optical refraction; Optical switches; Graphene; integrated optics; optical switch,saturable absorption;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JLT.2014.2352624

Filename

6884777