Abstract: We analyze the resonant transmission of light through a photonic-crystal waveguide side coupled to a Kerr nonlinear cavity, and demonstrate how to design the structure geometry for achieving bistability and all-optical switching at ultralow powers in the slow-light regime. We show that the resonance quality factor in such structures scales inversely proportional to the group velocity of light at the resonant frequency and thus grows indefinitely in the slow-light regime. Accordingly, the power threshold required for all-optical switching in such structures scales as a square of the group velocity, rapidly vanishing in the slow-light regime.

Keywords: silicon chip; resonator structures; optical buffers; enhancement; nanocavities; slab

Copyright © by the respective publisher. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the publisher.