Mach-Zehnder interferometer using photonic band gap crystals

• US 20030011775A1
• Filed: 05/15/2002
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Fan, Shanhui, Soljacic, Marin, Joannopoulos, John D., Johnson, Steven G., Ibanescu, Mihai
• Granted Patent: US 6,917,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/450
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/1225 comprising photonic band-gap structures or photonic lattices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/225 in an optical waveguide structure
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/32 Photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0265 Intensity modulators intra-cavity modulators H01S5/0625
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/11 Comprising a photonic bandgap structure

Abstract

A photonic crystal optical switch having a periodic dielectric structure including at least one input waveguide. First and second waveguide arms branch from the input waveguide in which the relative optical path lengths of electromagnetic radiation within the arms are controlled by stimuli. At least one output waveguide that combines the electromagnetic radiation propagating within the first and second waveguide arms.

Claims

1. A photonic crystal interferometer comprising a periodic dielectric structure including an input having at least one input waveguide, first and second waveguide arms branching from said input waveguide in which the relative optical path lengths of electromagnetic radiation within said arms are controlled by stimuli, and an output having at least one output waveguide that combines the electromagnetic radiation propagating within said first and second waveguide arms.

2. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 1, wherein said periodic dielectric structure is two-dimensionally periodic.

3. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 1, wherein said periodic dielectric structure is three-dimensionally periodic.

4. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 1, wherein said input waveguide, said first and second arms, and said at least one output waveguide are linear defects in said periodic dielectric structure.

5. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 1, wherein said first and second waveguide arms terminate.

6. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 1, wherein said first and second waveguide arms combine into said at least one output waveguide.

7. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 1, wherein said at least one output waveguide comprises two output waveguides.

8. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 1, wherein said stimuli is external.

9. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 8, wherein said stimuli is electrical, optical, thermal, acoustical or mechanical.

10. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 1, wherein said stimuli is internal.

11. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 10, wherein said stimuli is self-induced.

12. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 1, wherein at least one arm enables control of said relative optical path length.

13. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 1, wherein said first and second waveguide arms are configured to provide low group velocity of the electromagnetic radiation.

14. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 13, wherein the group velocity is less than 0.01 c.

15. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 13, wherein the group velocity is less than 0.01 c.

16. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 13, wherein the group velocity is less than 0.001 c.

17. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 1, wherein said first and second waveguide arms are configured to provide small dispersion of said electromagnetic radiation.

18. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 1, wherein said first and second waveguide arms are configured to provide wide bandwidth of said electromagnetic radiation.

19. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 1, wherein said first and second waveguide arms are configured to provide high transmission over a large bandwidth of said electromagnetic radiation when in operation.

20. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 19, wherein the bandwidth is larger than 0.05(v_G/c).

21. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 19, wherein the bandwidth is larger than 0.2(v_G/c).

22. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 19, wherein the bandwidth is larger than 0.4(v_G/c).

23. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 1, wherein said inputs comprises a directional coupler.

24. The photonic crystal interferometer of claim 1, wherein said outputs comprise a directional coupler.

25. A photonic crystal interferometer measuring device comprising a periodic dielectric structure including an input waveguide, first and second waveguide arms branching from said input waveguide in which the relative optical path lengths of electromagnetic radiation within said arms are controlled by stimuli, and at least one output waveguide that combines the electromagnetic radiation propagating within said first and second waveguide arms.

26. A photonic crystal optical switch comprising a periodic dielectric structure including an input waveguide, first and second waveguide arms branching from said input waveguide in which the relative optical path lengths of electromagnetic radiation within said arms are controlled by stimuli, and at least one output waveguide that combines the electromagnetic radiation propagating within said first and second waveguide arms.

27. A photonic crystal optical router comprising a periodic dielectric structure including an input waveguide, first and second waveguide arms branching from said input waveguide in which the relative optical path lengths of electromagnetic radiation within said arms are controlled by stimuli, and at least one output waveguide that combines the electromagnetic radiation propagating within said first and second waveguide arms.

28. A photonic crystal logic gate comprising a periodic dielectric structure including an input waveguide, first and second waveguide arms branching from said input waveguide in which the relative optical path lengths of electromagnetic radiation within said arms are controlled by stimuli, and at least one output waveguide that combines the electromagnetic radiation propagating within said first and second waveguide arms.

29. A photonic crystal optical insulator comprising a periodic dielectric structure including at least one input waveguide, first and second waveguide arms branching from said input, having magneto-optically active material, in which the relative optical path lengths of electromagnetic radiation within said arms differ depending on the propagation direction due to magneto-optically active material, and at least one output waveguide that combines the electromagnetic radiation propagating within said first and second waveguide arms.