Abstract
An optical switch concept is presented which involves moving a negative-index metamaterial (NIM) load, possibly with loss, close to one waveguide in a two-waveguide directional coupler. The NIM load limits the number of optical modes in the switch, creating a system where the single waveguide mode propagation constant is far from other mode propagation constants. The wide spacing in propagation constants, not possible with positive-index media (PIM) loads, permits a small switch size. Three-dimensional (3D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations confirm results from a simple one-dimensional (1D) model. Importantly, realistic NIM losses do not impede switch operation.
© 2023 Optica Publishing Group
Full Article | PDF ArticleMore Like This
Bryce A. Tennant, Riffat Ara, Abdulaziz Atwiri, Govind P. Agrawal, Natalia M. Litchinitser, and Drew N. Maywar
Opt. Lett. 44(18) 4586-4589 (2019)
Yuzhang Liang, Zhiyong Yu, Ningjuan Ruan, Qian Sun, and Ting Xu
Opt. Lett. 42(16) 3239-3242 (2017)
Kun Shang, Lei Niu, Huimin Jin, Haoxian Wang, Wei Zhang, Fuwan Gan, and Peipeng Xu
Opt. Lett. 49(3) 722-725 (2024)