Abstract

Abstract (40-Word Limit): Photonic crystyal waveguides operating in the slow light regime offer a wide range of opportunities for optical signal processing based on the fact that they offer resonant enhancement of light-matter interaction combined with sizeable bandwidth (5-15 nm typ. at 1550 nm) based on the unique ability to engineer their dispersive properties. These opportunities can be categorised along three different lines, namely a) ultracompact optical modulators/switches, b) enhanced nonlinear interaction and c) optical buffers and delays. Regarding modulators, it is now possible to design devices with similar actuation energy/bit as in comparable microrings, yet with 1-2 orders of magnitude larger bandwidth. Regarding nonlinear interaction, we have shown that the efficiency of third harmonic generation and four wave mixing scales as the third or fourth power of the slowdown factor, respectively, and that surprising conversion efficiencies can be achievd on very short lengthscales. Finally, we highlight recent developments in tunable optical delay, especially the ability to tune the delay at the bit-level and on picosecond timescales.

© 2012 OSA