| We investigate theoretically the performance limits for all-optical devices incorporating photonic crystals made of nonlinear materials operating at wide bandwidth (high bit rate). We compare two switching techniques – the shift of photonic bandgap and the more traditional interferometric method enhanced by slow wave propagation, and show that the latter always holds an advantage. We show that while the “bandgap shift” schemes operate well for narrow bandwidth applications, they hold no advantages whatsoever over the Fabry-Perot resonators. We also demonstrate that the benefits provided by the photonic crystal in the interferometer are still severely limited by the dispersion and become appreciable only in materials combining high nonlinearity, high index contrast and high damage threshold. Finally we show that there are few wide bandwidth applications, such as electro-optic modulation, where the “slow light assisted PC devices may offer true advantages.
Jacob B. Khurgin graduated with MS in Optics from the Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics in St Petersburg, Russia in 1979, where he was also born before that. In 1980 he had emigrated to US, and, to his own great surprise, immediately landed what then seemed to be a meaningful job with Philips Laboratories of NV Philips in Briarcliff Manor, NY. There for 8 years he worked with various degrees of success on miniature solid-state lasers, II-VI semiconductor lasers, various display and lighting fixtures, X-ray imaging, and small appliances such as electric shavers and coffeemakers (for which he has 3 patents). Simultaneously he was pursuing his graduate studies at Polytechnic Institute of NY, where he had received PhD in Electro-physics in Jan. 1987. In Jan. 1988, prompted by a promotion to a Department Manager, Khurgin’s industrial career came to an abrupt end, and he had joined the Electrical Engineering department of Johns Hopkins University, where he had settled down and is currently a Professor. His research topics over the years included an eclectic mixture of optics of semiconductor nanostructures, nonlinear optical devices, optical communications, microwave photonics, and condensed matter physics. Currently he is working in the areas of mid-IR emitters, laser cooling, phonon engineering for high frequency transistors, coherent optical communications, and slow light propagation. His publications include 2 book chapters, one book edited, 170+ papers in refereed journals and 8 patents. Prof. Khurgin is an OSA Fellow. Click here for more information. |
