Study of a Mach-Zehnder-type ultrafast all-optical switch based on a periodically patterned microring resonator

A novel Mach-Zehnder-type ultrafast all-optical switch is proposed, based on a periodically patterned microring resonator. The periodic patterns in the ring resonator provide both strong confinement and slow light properties, and enhance the nonlinear Kerr effect. The special design achieves the goal of deceasing the length and area of the device. This device possesses the practical advantages of low power consumption, low latency, high speed data processing ability, and integration potential. The pump power for the switching is reduced to 5 mW. It is a promising device for future all-optical network nodes.