All-optical signal processing at ultra-low powers in bottle microresonators using the Kerr effect

Opt Express. 2010 Aug 16;18(17):17764-75. doi: 10.1364/OE.18.017764.

Abstract

We present experimental results on nonlinear, ultra-low power photonics applications based on a silica whispering-gallery-mode microresonator. Our bottle microresonator combines an ultrahigh quality factor of Q > 10(8) with a small mode volume V. The resulting Q(2)/V-ratio is among the highest realized for optical microresonators and allows us to observe bistable behavior at very low powers. We report single-wavelength all-optical switching via the Kerr effect at a record-low threshold of 50 microW. Moreover, an advantageous mode geometry enables the coupling of two tapered fiber waveguides to a bottle mode in an add-drop configuration. This allows us to route a CW optical signal between both fiber outputs with high efficiency by varying its power level. Finally, we demonstrate that the same set-up can also be operated as an optical memory.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Glass / chemistry
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Optical Devices*
  • Optical Fibers
  • Optics and Photonics / instrumentation*
  • Optics and Photonics / methods*
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / instrumentation*
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry*

Substances

  • Silicon Dioxide