Single-wavelength, all-optical switching based on exciton-polaritons

We present a method for all-optical switching using a microcavity exciton-polariton system. Unlike many other switching methods, we use a single wavelength for both the signal and gate, which means that this method could be used for cascading optical logic gates and amplification within an all-optical circuit. We resonantly pump the sample at an angle with a laser beam and probe the sample with another beam at normal incidence. Upon saturation of the exciton-polariton states, the normal-incidence resonance increases in energy to permit the probe beam to be transmitted through the sample. Experimental results demonstrate switching using a GaAs/AlAs microcavity. Switching times on the order of ten picoseconds and on/off ratios on the order of 10:1 have been observed, and we propose design options to improve upon these. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4754575]