All-optical switching based on cross-phase modulation in microstructure fiber

In this letter, we demonstrate all-optical switching of picosecond pulses between the output ports of a microstructure-fiber-based polarization Sagnac interferometer. High contrast switching of 2.6-ps FWHM signal pulses due to cross-phase modulation induced by 4.9-ps pump pulses in a 5.8-m long microstructure fiber is achieved at wavelengths near 1550 and 780 nm. The spectral and temporal behavior of the switching device are investigated and compared with numerical simulations based on coupled-wave theory.