Abstract-Tunable terahertz Kerr switching based on nonlinear polarization rotation in silicon waveguide

Miaoli Mou, Hongjun Liu, Nan Huang, Qibing Sun, and Zhaolu Wang  »View Author Affiliations

Applied Optics, Vol. 53, Issue 12, pp. 2741-2747 (2014)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/AO.53.002741

A compact and widely tunable terahertz (THz) all-optical Kerr switching using nonlinear polarization rotation generated by cross-phase modulation in a silicon waveguide is theoretically proposed. A switching efficiency of 83% is obtained when a π-phase shift difference between the TE and TM polarization components of the continuous-wave THz signal is achieved. Moreover, the tuning range of the THz switching is from 7.69 to 10 THz through changing the pump power. This THz all-optical switching has potential applications in THz communications and other THz switchable devices.

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