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Ultrafast all-optical switching in a silicon-based plasmonic nanoring resonator
S Sederberg1, D Driedger, M Nielsen
1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2V4, Canada. shawns@ualberta.ca
Optics Express
|November 24, 2011
Summary
This study introduces a silicon plasmonic nanoring resonator for ultrafast optical switching. The device achieves 3 ps switching times via photogenerated free carriers, paving the way for high-density photonic circuits.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
Background:
- All-optical switching is crucial for high-speed information processing.
- Plasmonic nanostructures offer unique light-matter interaction properties for miniaturization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and numerically demonstrate a silicon-based plasmonic nanoring resonator for ultrafast all-optical switching.
- To investigate the switching mechanism and performance of the proposed device.
Main Methods:
- Full-wave numerical simulations were employed to analyze the plasmonic nanoring resonator.
- The device's optical response was simulated under conditions of photogenerated free carriers.
Main Results:
- The proposed silicon plasmonic nanoring resonator exhibits ultrafast switching capabilities.
- Switching times as low as 3 picoseconds were achieved by shifting the transmission minimum.
- The device features a compact footprint of 1.00 μm².
Conclusions:
- The photogeneration of free carriers is an effective mechanism for ultrafast switching in plasmonic nanoring resonators.
- The demonstrated device shows significant potential for high integration density plasmonic circuitry.
- This work contributes to the development of advanced optical switching technologies.
