Fast thermo-optical excitability in a two-dimensional photonic crystal.
We experimentally demonstrate excitability in a semiconductor two-dimensional photonic crystal. Excitability is a nonlinear dynamical mechanism underlying pulselike responses to small perturbations in systems possessing one stable state. We show that a band-edge photonic crystal resonator exhibits class II excitability, resulting from the nonlinear coupling between the high-Q optical mode, the charge-carrier density, and the fast (sub-micros) thermal dynamics. In this context, the critical slowing down of the electro-optical dynamics close to the excitable threshold can delay the optical response by an amount comparable to the duration of the output pulse (5 ns). The latter results from a short thermal dynamical excursion along a high local intensity manifold of the phase space.
Yacomotti
A M
AM
Laboratoire de Photonique et de Nanostructures (CNRS UPR 20), Route de Nozay, 91460 Marcoussis, France. Alejandro.Giacomotti@lpn.cnrs.fr
Monnier
P
P
Raineri
F
F
Bakir
B Ben
BB
Seassal
C
C
Raj
R
R
Levenson
J A
JA
D001152:Arsenicals / Q000737:chemistry; D003460:Crystallization; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D007204:Indium / Q000737:chemistry; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010720:Phosphines / Q000737:chemistry; D017785:Photons; D012666:Semiconductors; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D013816:Thermodynamics
D001152:Arsenicals; D010720:Phosphines; D007204:Indium; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D006108:Graphite; C090882:indium phosphide