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Static and dynamic wavelength routing via the gradient optical force

Nature Photonics volume 3, pages 478–483 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

We propose and demonstrate an all-optical wavelength routing approach that uses a tuning mechanism based upon the optical gradient force in a specially designed nano-optomechanical system. The resulting mechanically compliant ‘spiderweb’ resonator realizes seamless wavelength routing over a range of 3,000 times the intrinsic channel width, with a tuning efficiency of 309 GHz mW−1, a switching time of less than 200 ns, and 100% channel quality preservation over the entire tuning range. These results indicate the potential for radiation pressure actuated devices to be used in a variety of photonics applications, such as channel routing/switching, buffering, dispersion compensation, pulse trapping/release and widely tunable lasers.

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Figure 1: Spiderweb microresonator images and simulations.
Figure 2: Pump–probe experimental setup.
Figure 3: Static tuning of a spiderweb microresonator.
Figure 4: Dynamic response of a spiderweb microresonator.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for this work was provided by a DARPA seedling effort managed by Prof. Henryk Temkin, and the DARPA Phaser program.

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Author notes

  1. Jessie Rosenberg and Qiang Lin: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Thomas J. Watson, Sr, Laboratory of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, 91125, California, USA

    Jessie Rosenberg, Qiang Lin & Oskar Painter

Authors
  1. Jessie Rosenberg
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  2. Qiang Lin
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  3. Oskar Painter
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Contributions

J.R. and Q.L. performed the design, fabrication and testing of devices. All authors contributed to planning the measurements and writing the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jessie Rosenberg, Qiang Lin or Oskar Painter.

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Rosenberg, J., Lin, Q. & Painter, O. Static and dynamic wavelength routing via the gradient optical force. Nature Photon 3, 478–483 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2009.137

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