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Non-volatile bi-directional all-optical switching in chalcogenide glass metamaterials

Non-volatile bi-directional all-optical switching in chalcogenide glass metamaterials
Non-volatile bi-directional all-optical switching in chalcogenide glass metamaterials
For the first time, we demonstrate a non-volatile bi-directional all-optical switching in a phase-change metamaterial. By engaging together the phase-change functionality of a chalcogenide glass and the resonant plasmonic properties of a nanostructured metamaterial we have achieved high-contrast optical modulation of transmission and reflection. Light-induced structural phase transitions in the glass component of hybrid structures provides for reversible switching of optical properties across large-scale metamaterial arrays.

Phase transitions are initiated uniformly across large (~2000 µm2) areas of the chalcogenide film by single-pulse laser excitation on the nanosecond timescale. Reversible switching in the 1-2 µm spectral range with a reflection contrast ratio exceeding 4:1 has been achieved at optical excitation levels of ~0.25 mW/µm2 in a gold metamaterial hybridized with germanium-antimony-telluride glass - a device structure only ~1/8 of a wavelength thick. Such metamaterials may be structurally engineered to provide switching functionality throughout the chalcogenide's visible to mid-infrared transparency range.
Gholipour, B.
c17bd62d-9df6-40e6-bc42-65272d97e559
Zhang, J.
7ce15288-2016-4b9c-8244-7aed073363ca
MacDonald, K.F.
76c84116-aad1-4973-b917-7ca63935dba5
Hewak, D.W.
87c80070-c101-4f7a-914f-4cc3131e3db0
Zheludev, N.I.
32fb6af7-97e4-4d11-bca6-805745e40cc6
Gholipour, B.
c17bd62d-9df6-40e6-bc42-65272d97e559
Zhang, J.
7ce15288-2016-4b9c-8244-7aed073363ca
MacDonald, K.F.
76c84116-aad1-4973-b917-7ca63935dba5
Hewak, D.W.
87c80070-c101-4f7a-914f-4cc3131e3db0
Zheludev, N.I.
32fb6af7-97e4-4d11-bca6-805745e40cc6

Gholipour, B., Zhang, J., MacDonald, K.F., Hewak, D.W. and Zheludev, N.I. (2012) Non-volatile bi-directional all-optical switching in chalcogenide glass metamaterials. SPIE Photonics Europe 2012, , Brussels, Belgium. 16 - 19 Apr 2012.

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Poster)

Abstract

For the first time, we demonstrate a non-volatile bi-directional all-optical switching in a phase-change metamaterial. By engaging together the phase-change functionality of a chalcogenide glass and the resonant plasmonic properties of a nanostructured metamaterial we have achieved high-contrast optical modulation of transmission and reflection. Light-induced structural phase transitions in the glass component of hybrid structures provides for reversible switching of optical properties across large-scale metamaterial arrays.

Phase transitions are initiated uniformly across large (~2000 µm2) areas of the chalcogenide film by single-pulse laser excitation on the nanosecond timescale. Reversible switching in the 1-2 µm spectral range with a reflection contrast ratio exceeding 4:1 has been achieved at optical excitation levels of ~0.25 mW/µm2 in a gold metamaterial hybridized with germanium-antimony-telluride glass - a device structure only ~1/8 of a wavelength thick. Such metamaterials may be structurally engineered to provide switching functionality throughout the chalcogenide's visible to mid-infrared transparency range.

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More information

Published date: April 2012
Venue - Dates: SPIE Photonics Europe 2012, , Brussels, Belgium, 2012-04-16 - 2012-04-19
Organisations: Optoelectronics Research Centre

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 379249
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/379249
PURE UUID: 2230a61c-65d8-4755-a86b-c8c04941e03b
ORCID for K.F. MacDonald: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-3877-2976
ORCID for D.W. Hewak: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-2093-5773
ORCID for N.I. Zheludev: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-1013-6636

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 16 Jul 2015 15:41
Last modified: 12 Dec 2021 03:09

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Contributors

Author: B. Gholipour
Author: J. Zhang
Author: K.F. MacDonald ORCID iD
Author: D.W. Hewak ORCID iD
Author: N.I. Zheludev ORCID iD

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