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Published on: November 30, 2012
Bistable switching in the lossy side-coupled plasmonic waveguide-cavity structures.
Xu-Sheng Lin1, Jun-Hu Yan, Yun-Bao Zheng
1Laboratory of Photonic Information Technology, School for Information and Optoelectronic Science and Engineering, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
Optics Express
|June 7, 2011
Summary
Lossy plasmonic resonators act as bistable switches. Internal loss affects performance but enhances switching by widening hysteresis loops, validated by theory and simulation.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and optical engineering
- Nonlinear optics
- Plasmonics
Background:
- Plasmonic resonators are key components in optical devices.
- Bistable optical switches are crucial for signal processing.
- Understanding the impact of internal loss on resonator performance is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To numerically demonstrate the bistable switching capability of lossy side-coupled plasmonic resonators.
- To analyze the effects of internal loss on bistable characteristics.
- To develop a corrected nonlinear transmission formula for lossy resonators.
Main Methods:
- Numerical simulations of side-coupled plasmonic resonators.
- Analysis of transmission contrast and input power requirements.
- Theoretical correction of the nonlinear transmission formula.
Main Results:
- Lossy plasmonic resonators function as bistable switches without compensation.
- Internal loss reduces transmission contrast and increases input power.
- Internal loss enlarges the hysteresis loop width, improving switching availability.
- Corrected theoretical formula accurately predicts resonator behavior.
Conclusions:
- Lossy plasmonic resonators offer a viable route to bistable optical switching.
- The trade-offs introduced by internal loss can be managed for practical applications.
- The developed theoretical framework enhances the understanding of nonlinear phenomena in lossy plasmonic systems.
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