A novel low-light-level optical switch by using nano-opto-mechanics technology
An all-optical switch that controls a strong light with a weak one based on nonlinear cavity enhanced optomechanical effect is demonstrated. It consists of a micro-ring resonator with suspension arcs, and a bus waveguide. “On” and “off” states of the probe light depend on the position of the suspension arcs that is under the control by a weak signal light. By use of nano-opto-mechanics system (NOMS) technology, the device is fabricated on silicon photonics platform with a foot-print size of only 50 μm × 50 μm. The switch is studied through both modeling and experiment. The observed control light is 380 times smaller in intensity than the probe light. Potential applications of this switch include quantum information networks, optical memories, on-chip optical signal processing, etc.