Low-light-level all-optical switching.
We propose an all-optical switch that utilizes the technique of storage and retrieval of light pulses. A single photon (probe pulse) switched by another (switching pulse) is feasible, and the on-off ratio can be as large as 10 dB. We have experimentally demonstrated that the energy of the retrieved probe pulse is reduced to about 10% because of the presence of a switching pulse with an energy per unit area of one photon per lambda(2)/(2pi). The achieved result does not depend on the coupling intensity, the atomic optical density, or the width and shape of the switching pulse.
Wang
Chang-Yi
CY
Department of Physics, National Hsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan 300, China.
Chen
Yong-Fan
YF
Lin
Sheng-Chiun
SC
Lin
Wei-Hsun
WH
Kuan
Pei-Chen
PC
Yu
Ite A
IA