Optics Express

Manipulating the optical bistability at terahertz frequency in the Fabry-Perot cavity with graphene

Leyong Jiang, Jun Guo, Leiming Wu, Xiaoyu Dai, Yuanjiang Xiang

Published Nov 20, 2015• 43 citations

Abstract

We investigate theoretically the optical bistability from a Fabry-Perot cavity with graphene in the terahertz (THz) frequency. It is demonstrated that the optical bistablility in this cavity can be realized due to the electric field enhancement and the giant third-order nonlinear conductivity of graphene. The optical bistable behavior is strongly dependent on the transmission amplitude of the mirror and the position of the graphene in the cavity. It is especially important that the hysterical behaviors of the transmitted light rely on the optical conductivity of graphene, making the Fabry-Perot cavity to be a good candidate for dynamic tunable optical bistable device in the THz frequencies, owing to the possibility of high tunability of graphene conductivity by means of external electrostatic or magnetostatic field.

DOI: 10.1364/oe.23.031181

Related papers

Controllable optical bistability in a Fabry–Pérot cavity with a nonlinear three-dimensional Dirac semimetal

Hong-Xia 红霞 Yuan 袁, Jia-Xue 佳雪 Li 李, Qi-Jun 奇军 Ma 马 +5 more

Optical bistability (OB) is capable of rapidly and reversibly transforming a parameter of an optical signal from one state to another, and homologous nonlinear optical bistable devices are core components of high-speed all-optical communication and all-optical networks. In this paper, we theoretically investigated the controllable OB from a Fabry–Pérot (FP) cavity with a nonlinear three-dimensional Dirac semimetal (3D DSM) in the terahertz band. The OB stems from the third-order nonlinear bulk conductivity of the 3D DSM and the resonance mode has a positive effect on the generation of OB. This FP cavity structure is able to tune the OB because the transmittance and the reflectance can be modulated by the Fermi energy of the 3D DSM. We believe that this FP cavity configuration could provide a reference concept for realizing tunable bistable devices.

Chinese Physics BSep 28, 20233 citations

Low threshold optical bistability at terahertz frequencies with graphene surface plasmons

Xiaoyu Dai, Leyong Jiang, Yuanjiang Xiang

We propose a modified Kretschmann-Raether configuration to realize the low threshold optical bistable devices at the terahertz frequencies. The metal layer is replaced by the dielectric sandwich structure with the insertion of graphene, and this configuration can support TM-polarization surface electromagnetic wave. The surface plasmon resonance is strongly dependent on the Fermi-level of graphene and the thickness of the sandwich structure. It is found that the switching-up and switching-down intensities required to observe the optical bistable behavior are lowered markedly due to the excitation of the graphene surface plasmons, thus making this configuration a prime candidate for experimental investigation at the terahertz range. And the switching threshold value can be further reduced by decreasing the Fermi-level or increasing the thickness of sandwich structure, hence providing a new way for realizing tunable optical bistable devices. Finally, the optical bistability at higher terahertz frequency and the influence of relaxation time under the actual experimental condition on Fermi-level are discussed.

Scientific ReportsJul 21, 201593 citations

Low-threshold optical bistability with multilayer graphene-covering Otto configuration

Hengliang Wang, Jipeng Wu, Jun Guo +3 more

In this paper, we propose a modified Otto configuration to realize tunable and low-threshold optical bistability at terahertz frequencies by attaching multilayer graphene sheets to a nonlinear substrate interface. Our work demonstrates that the threshold of optical bistability can be markedly reduced (three orders of magnitude) by covering the nonlinear substrate with multilayer graphene sheets, due to strong local field enhancement with the excitation of surface plasmons. We present the influences of the Fermi energy of graphene, the incident angle, the thickness of air gap and the relaxation time of graphene on the hysteresis phenomenon and give a way to optimize the surface plasmon resonance, which will enable us to further lower the minimal power requirements for realizing optical bistability due to the strong interaction of light with graphene sheets. These results are promising for realization of terahertz optical switches, optical modulators and logical devices.

Journal of Physics D Applied PhysicsMay 26, 201625 citations

Long-range surface plasmon-induced tunable ultralow threshold optical bistability using graphene sheets at terahertz frequency

Aparupa Kar, Nabamita Goswami, Ardhendu Saha

A proposal on optical bistability at ultralow switching threshold and lower Fermi-level of graphene around 2 THz is implemented analytically through the proposed long-range surface plasmon resonance configuration by employing local field enhancement effects owing to the excitation of a graphene symmetric mode within graphene sheets. Reported threshold intensity for the optical bistability to date is 1.6 kW/cm2 within the terahertz region and 1.83 MW/cm2 at near-IR range. Whereas the proposed scheme explores the possibility of reducing this threshold down to 143.68 W/cm2, this technique proffers potential applications in nanoillumination, optical memory, and all-optical switching at an ultra-low threshold.

Applied OpticsMar 7, 201714 citations

Coherent control of magneto-optical Faraday rotation at terahertz frequencies in graphene-based metasurfaces via electromagnetically induced transparency

Hazrat Ali, Muhammad Imtiaz Khan, Rafi Ud Din +4 more

Abstract We investigate theoretically the controlled magneto-optical Faraday rotation (MO-FR) through graphene-based metasurfaces placed on electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) substrate at terahertz (THz) frequencies. MO-FR and transmission of the probe light are studied by changing the electric field that manipulates the group index of the substrate. The MO-FR can be controlled and enhanced by varying the periodic width of graphene ribbons. The polarization plane of MO-FR changes with 180 degrees while increasing the probe field detuning through the EIT substrate. The zero-crossing of MO-FR shifts to higher THz frequencies with increasing the magnetic field. The transmission of the probe light pulse at THz frequencies is investigated with the probe detuning and the applied magnetic field.

Physica ScriptaMay 10, 20213 citations

Graphene Nanobubble: A New Optical Nonlinear Material

Qiaoliang Bao, Jianqiang Chen, Yuanjiang Xiang +6 more

Graphene is a rising star in nonlinear optics due to its saturable absorption and giant Kerr nonlinearity, these properties are useful in digital optics based on optical nonlinear devices. However, practical applications require large optical nonlinearities and these are inherently limited by the interaction length of atomically thin graphene. Here, we demonstrate optical bistability in a Fabry Perot cavity containing monolayer and bilayer graphene which have been restructured to form nanobubbles. We find that graphene nanobubble can act as a new type of optical nonlinear media due to its vertical side wall as well as added curvature, which enable strong non linear dispersive effects leading to a large optically induced phase change. Unlike thermally induced bistability, the all optical switching between two transmission states happens within a time scale of tens of nanoseconds. Nanobubble based optical devices with intrinsic optical nonlinearity help to overcome the optical path length limitation of atomically thin two dimensional films and allow us to explore the promise of using such elements as the building block of digital all-optical circuitry.

arXiv:1506.06900Jun 23, 20150 citations