Fast all-optical switch
AssigneeUTI Limited Partnership
InventorsSergey Moiseev, Ali Kamli, Barry Sanders
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus, system, and method for fast all-optical switching is presented. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a first light transmitting medium. The apparatus may also include a second light transmitting medium coupled to the first light transmitting medium and disposed to form an interface region between the first light transmitting medium and the second light transmitting medium. Additionally, the apparatus may include a plurality of Lambda atoms disposed in the interface region, the Lambda atoms adapted to cause Electromagnetically-Induced Transparency (EIT) in the interface region in response to an incident photon.
Claims12
A fast all-optical switch system comprising:
- a first laser source configured to transmit a signal laser beam;
- a second laser source configured to transmit an escort laser beam;
- a photon modulator coupled to the first laser source and the second laser source and adapted to modulate the signal laser beam, the photon modulator comprising:
- a first light transmitting medium;
- a second light transmitting medium coupled to the first light transmitting medium and disposed to form an interface region between the first light transmitting medium and the second light transmitting medium;
- and
- a plurality of Lambda atoms disposed in the interface region, the Lambda atoms adapted to cause Electromagnetically-Induced Transparency (EIT) in the interface region in response to an incident photon;
- and
- one or more photon directors configured to direct a path of the signal laser beam responsive to the modulation of the signal laser beam.
A method of operating a fast all-optical switch comprising:
- providing a structure comprising:
- a first light transmitting medium;
- a second light transmitting medium coupled to the first light transmitting medium and disposed to form an interface region between the first light transmitting medium and the second light transmitting medium;
- and
- a plurality of Lambda atoms disposed in the interface region, the Lambda atoms adapted to cause Electromagnetically-Induced Transparency (EIT) in the interface region in response to an incident photon;
- directing a photon to the interface region to induce formation of a first surface polariton and a second polariton that propagate through the interface region;
- and
- modulating a phase of the photon according to a propagation speed of the first surface polariton with reference to the propagation speed of the second surface polariton.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.