We present ultrafast optical switching experiments on 3D photonic band gap crystals. Switching the Si inverse opal is achieved by optically exciting free carriers by a two-photon process. We probe reflectivity in the frequency range of second order Bragg diffraction where the photonic band gap is predicted. We observe a large frequency shift of up to 1.5% of all spectral features including the peak that corresponds to the photonic band gap. We also demonstrate large, ultrafast shifts of stop bands of planar GaAs/AlAs photonic structures. We briefly discuss how our results can be used in future switching and modulation applications.

Bellingham: SPIE
G.S. Subramania , F. Garcia-Santamaria , S.M. Weiss
doi.org/10.1117/12.737495
Photonic Materials

Euser, T. G., Wei, H., Kalkman, J., Jun, Y., Guina, M., Suomalainen, S., … Vos, W. L. (2007). Ultrafast all-optical switching of 3D photonic band gap crystals. In G. S. Subramania, F. Garcia-Santamaria, & S. M. Weiss (Eds.), Active photonic crystals, 28 August 2007, San Diego, CA, USA. doi:10.1117/12.737495