NON-LINEAR PHOTONIC SWITCH AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME

摘要

A photonic switch (30) according ot the present invention may be formed using one of a selected group of non-linear optical materials. Each of the materials within this group has a refractive index that demonstrates a substantial peak as a function of wavelength, where the peak occurs at a wavelength distinct from the wavelength of the input signal. A method of producing a photonic switch according to the present invention includes fabricating source (33) and drain (35) waveguides using micro-molding or micro-contact printing processes, or MIMIC (micro-molding in capillaries) of a UV-curable polymer. If desired, a gate waveguide (37) may also be formed in part by these processes. The photonic switch (30) also includes a photonic crystal (39) formed from non-linear optical material may be formed, for example, using a block copolymer and nanoparticle composite in a MIMIC or microfluidics process. Such a process may employ a functionalized mold material to align the blocks.