All-optical multichannel logic based on coherent perfect absorption in a plasmonic metamaterial

Papaioannou, M., Plum, E., Valente, J. , Rogers, E. T.F. and Zheludev, N. I. (2016) All-optical multichannel logic based on coherent perfect absorption in a plasmonic metamaterial. APL Photonics, 1(9), 090801. (doi: 10.1063/1.4966269)

Abstract

The exponential growth of telecommunications bandwidth will require next generation optical networks, where multiple spatial information channels will be transmitted in parallel. To realise the full potential of parallel optical data channels, fast and scalable multichannel solutions for processing of optical data are of paramount importance. Established solutions based on the nonlinear wave interaction in photorefractive materials are slow. Here we experimentally demonstrate all-optical logical operations between pairs of simulated spatially multiplexed information channels using the coherent interaction of light with light on a plasmonic metamaterial. The approach is suitable for fiber implementation and—in principle—operates with diffraction-limited spatial resolution, 100 THz bandwidth, and arbitrarily low intensities, thus promising ultrafast, low-power solutions for all-optical parallel data processing.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work is supported by the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Grant No. DSTLX1000064081), the MOE Singapore (Grant No. MOE2011-T3-1-005), the Leverhulme Trust, the University of Southampton Enterprise Fund, and the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (Grant Nos. EP/G060363/1 and EP/M009122/1).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Valente, Dr Joao
• Authors: Papaioannou, M., Plum, E., Valente, J., Rogers, E. T.F., and Zheludev, N. I.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
• Journal Name: APL Photonics
• Publisher: AIP Publishing
• ISSN: 2378-0967
• ISSN (Online): 2378-0967
• Published Online: 07 November 2016
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2016 The Authors
• First Published: First published in APL Photonics 1(9): 090801
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License
• Data DOI: 10.5258/SOTON/399177