Abstract

Ultra-compact photonic structures that perform high-speed low-energy optical signal processing are essential for enabling integrated photonic chips that can meet the growing demand for information capacity [1]. Here, we demonstrate all-optical 40 Gbit/s to 10 Gbit/s demultiplexing of an optical time domain multiplexed (OTDM) signal using an InP photonic crystal switch. The device is realized using a membrane structure, where a point-defect nanocavity is side coupled to a photonic crystal line-defect waveguide as shown in Fig. 1(a). The discrete cavity mode interacts with continuum modes of the waveguide creating a Fano resonance [2]. By placing a partially transmitting element (PTE) in the waveguide, the coupling between the waveguide and the cavity can be controlled [3]. The Fano lineshape is characterized by a large on-off transmission ratio with small spectral separation making it suitable for switching applications (Fig. 1(b)).

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