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Electronics Letters

Delay–bandwidth product and storage density in slow-light optical buffers

R.S. Tucker, C. C. Kuo, Connie J. Chang-Hasnain

Published Feb 17, 2005• 62 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The properties of slow-light optical delay lines, with low group velocity induced by electromagnetically induced transparency, population oscillations and photonic crystal filter structures, are analysed. It is shown that there are fundamental limitations on the delay–bandwidth product and the maximum storage density of data in slow-light devices.

DOI
10.1049/el:20057426

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The properties of slow-light optical delay lines, with low group velocity induced by electromagnetically induced transparency, population oscillations and photonic crystal filter structures, are analysed. It is shown that there are fundamental limitations on the delay–bandwidth product and the maximum storage density of data in slow-light devices.
This paper presents an analysis of optical buffers based on slow-light optical delay lines. The focus of this paper is on slow-light delay lines in which the group velocity is reduced using linear processes, including electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), population oscillations (POs), and microresonator-based photonic-crystal (PC) filters. We also consider slow-light delay lines in which the group velocity is reduced by an adiabatic process of bandwidth compression. A framework is developed for comparing these techniques and identifying fundamental physical limitations of linear slow-light technologies. It is shown that slow-light delay lines have limited capacity and delay-bandwidth product. In principle, the group velocity in slow-light delay lines can be made to approach zero. But very slow group velocity always comes at the cost of very low bandwidth or throughput. In many applications, miniaturization of the delay line is an important consideration. For all delay-line buffers, the minimum physical size of the buffer for a given number of buffered data bits is ultimately limited by the physical size of each stored bit. We show that in slow-light optical buffers, the minimum achievable size of 1 b is approximately equal to the wavelength of light in the buffer. We also compare the capabilities and limitations of a range of delay-line buffers, investigate the impact of waveguide losses on the buffer capacity, and look at the applicability of slow-light delay lines in a number of applications.
Delay bandwidth products (DBPs) and physical pulselengths obtainable in media exhibiting electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) are analyzed. The study is performed in stationary media as well as for dynamic storing of light pulses in such media. In the latter case, the dispersion inherent in storage and readout of the pulses is analyzed. It is shown that absorption and the group velocity dispersion (GVD) are limiting factors. Analytical expressions for the minimum compressed pulselength and DBP are derived, and these expressions show good agreement with simulations of pulse propagation in EIT media.
The optical buffer is a key component in all-optical information processing systems. Recently a number of schemes that use slow light propagation in various media and structures have been proposed as means toward implementation of all-optical buffers. We rigorously analyze the similarities and differences in approaches that use electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and coupled resonant structures (CRS). We introduce the figure of merit, finesse, that is common to both approaches and obtain fundamental limitations on bit rates and storage capacities of optical buffers. We show that at very low bit rates and storage capacities EIT outperforms CRS, but at rates of 10 Mbits/s and above the EIT medium becomes quite inefficient, and the situation is reversed. Two types of CRS based on high-index-contrast fiber gratings and high-index semiconductor-air photonic crystals and (or) microring resonators are found to hold promise for applications in the 1-1000-Gbits/s range, but only if the losses can be drastically reduced.
Slow light with a markedly low group velocity is a promising solution for optical buffering and advanced time-domain optical signal processing. It is also anticipated to enhance linear and nonlinear effects and so miniaturize functional photonic devices because slow light compresses optical energy in space. Photonic crystal waveguide devices generate on-chip slow light at room temperature with a wide bandwidth and low dispersion suitable for short pulse transmission. This paper first explains the delay-bandwidth product, fractional delay, and tunability as crucial criteria for buffering capacity of slow light devices. Then the paper describes experimental observations of slow light pulse, exhibiting their record high values. It also demonstrates the nonlinear enhancement based on slow light pulse transmission.
Slow light with a markedly low group velocity is a promising solution for optical buffering and advanced time-domain optical signal processing. It is also anticipated to enhance linear and nonlinear effects and so miniaturize functional photonic devices because slow light compresses optical energy in space. Photonic crystal waveguide devices generate on-chip slow light at room temperature with a wide bandwidth and low dispersion suitable for short pulse transmission. This paper first explains the delay-bandwidth product, fractional delay, and tunability as crucial criteria for buffering capacity of slow light devices. Then the paper describes experimental observations of slow light pulse, exhibiting their record high values. It also demonstrates the nonlinear enhancement based on slow light pulse transmission.
Slow light with a markedly low group velocity is a promising solution for optical buering and advanced time-domain optical signal processing.It is also anticipated to enhance linear and nonlinear eects and so miniaturize functional photonic devices because slow light compresses optical energy in space.Photonic crystal waveguide devices generate on-chip slow light at room temperature with a wide bandwidth and low dispersion suitable for short pulse transmission.This paper rst explains the delay-bandwidth product, fractional delay, and tunability as crucial criteria for buering capacity of slow light devices.Then the paper describes experimental observations of slow light pulse, exhibiting their record high values.It also demonstrates the nonlinear enhancement based on slow light pulse transmission.