Optical switching system and method
Abstract
An optically bistable device is disclosed. The device includes a uniformly thick layer of amorphous silicon to constitute a Fabry-Perot chamber positioned to provide a target area for a probe beam. The probe beam has a maximum energy less than the energy band gap of the amorphous semiconductor. In a preferred embodiment, a multilayer dielectric mirror is positioned on the Fabry-Perot chamber to increase the finesse of switching of the device. The index of refraction of the amorphous material is thermally altered to alter the transmission of the probe beam.
- Inventors:
-
- N. Tonawanda, NY
- Engadine, AU
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Solar Energy Research Institute
- OSTI Identifier:
- 868199
- Patent Number(s):
- 5097357
- Assignee:
- University of Utah (Salt Lake City, UT)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G02 - OPTICS G02F - DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS, THE OPTICAL OPERATION OF WHICH IS MODIFIED BY CHANGING THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIUM OF THE DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF THE INTENSITY, COLOUR, PHASE, POLARISATION OR DIRECTION OF LIGHT, e.g. SWITCHING, GATING, MODULATING OR DEMODULATING
- DOE Contract Number:
- XM-5-05009-2
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- optical; switching; method; optically; bistable; device; disclosed; uniformly; thick; layer; amorphous; silicon; constitute; fabry-perot; chamber; positioned; provide; target; probe; beam; maximum; energy; band; gap; semiconductor; preferred; embodiment; multilayer; dielectric; mirror; increase; finesse; index; refraction; material; thermally; altered; alter; transmission; multilayer dielectric; thick layer; optical switching; maximum energy; probe beam; band gap; amorphous silicon; preferred embodiment; amorphous semiconductor; energy band; optical switch; dielectric mirror; amorphous material; /359/257/
Citation Formats
Ranganathan, Radha, Gal, Michael, and Taylor, P Craig. Optical switching system and method. United States: N. p., 1992.
Web.
Ranganathan, Radha, Gal, Michael, & Taylor, P Craig. Optical switching system and method. United States.
Ranganathan, Radha, Gal, Michael, and Taylor, P Craig. Wed .
"Optical switching system and method". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/868199.
@article{osti_868199,
title = {Optical switching system and method},
author = {Ranganathan, Radha and Gal, Michael and Taylor, P Craig},
abstractNote = {An optically bistable device is disclosed. The device includes a uniformly thick layer of amorphous silicon to constitute a Fabry-Perot chamber positioned to provide a target area for a probe beam. The probe beam has a maximum energy less than the energy band gap of the amorphous semiconductor. In a preferred embodiment, a multilayer dielectric mirror is positioned on the Fabry-Perot chamber to increase the finesse of switching of the device. The index of refraction of the amorphous material is thermally altered to alter the transmission of the probe beam.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992},
month = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992}
}
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