Cross-wavelength all-optical switching using nonlinearity of liquefying gallium

The gallium/silica interface optical nonlinearity associated with a light-induced structural phase transition from a-gallium to a more reflective, more metallic phase shows an exceptionally broadband spectral response. It allows 40% deep nanosecond/microsecond cross-wavelength intensity modulation between signals at 1.3 and 1.55aem.