Nonreciprocal switching of VO2 thin films on microstructured surfaces

We demonstrate that the combination of near-field focusing and a switchable oxide layer permits construction of a modulator with different optical switching thresholds in two opposing directions. For that purpose VO2 layers are deposited onto spherical micrometer-sized particles. The phase transition in VO2 is induced by a nanosecond-pulsed Nd:YAG laser from two different directions. The measured thresholds differ by a factor of 2.4, consistent with calculated differences in the intensities in the two directions. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America