Ultra-fast optical switches using 1D polymeric photonic crystals

We report fabrication of ultra-fast optical switches operated at a wavelength of 1064 nm using spin-coated one-dimensional polymeric photonic crystals doped with nonlinear-optical dyes. The optical switches are controlled either by an applied electric-field voltage or by a pump light by use of two different optical-configurations. The response time of the electro-optic switch and the all-optical switch are limited by the applied voltage and the laser used, respectively. The polymeric photonic crystals can be easily fabricated with low cost.