Evanescent-wave bonding between optical waveguides.
Forces arising from overlap between the guided waves of parallel, microphotonic waveguides are calculated. Both attractive and repulsive forces, determined by the choice of relative input phase, are found. Using realistic parameters for a silicon-on-insulator material system, we estimate that the forces are large enough to cause observable displacements. Our results illustrate the potential for a broader class of optically tunable microphotonic devices and microstructured artificial materials.
Povinelli
Michelle L
ML
Department of Physics and the Center for Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 02139, USA.
Loncar
Marko
M
Ibanescu
Mihai
M
Smythe
Elizabeth J
EJ
Johnson
Steven G
SG
Capasso
Federico
F
Joannopoulos
John D
JD