All optical switch for optical integrated circuits

摘要

An optical switch operating with an optical pumping source. The switch includes a microcavity structure that is resonant with both the pumping source and the input optical signal. The microcavity structure includes a cavity in between two reflectors. The input optical signal is switched from one to zero, by varying the pump source intensity. The microcavity provides amplification of the pumping energy allowing for a nonlocal optical power source. In addition it also provides a way for fast optical modulation of the input optical signal using continuous wave pumping source.