High efficiency all-optical diode based on photonic crystal waveguide

A high efficiency all-optical diode based on photonic crystal (PC) waveguide has been proposed and numerically investigated by finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The structure is asymmetrically coupled by a Fano cavity containing nonlinear Kerr medium and a F-P cavity in PC waveguide. Because of interference between two cavities, Fano peak and F-P peak can both appear in transmission spectra. Working wavelength is set between the two peaks and approaching to Fano peak. For forward launch with suitable light intensity, nonlinear Kerr effect of micro-cavity can be excited. It would result in red shift of Fano peak and achieving forward transmission. But due to the asymmetric design, backward launch need stronger incidence light to excite Kerr effect. This design has many advantages, including high maximum transmittance (>90%), high transmittance contrast ratio, low power threshold, short response time (picosecond level), ease of integration.