Heidelberg 1999 – scientific programme

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KY: Kybernetik

KY 5: Weitere Beiträge (Artikel)

KY 5.2: Poster

Monday, March 15, 1999, 13:00–14:00, ZO 3

A Finite-Volume Time-Domain Method for Simulation of the Spatiotemporal Dynamics of a Crossed Waveguide Nonlinear Optical Switch — •Stefan Scholz and Uwe Küester — Institute of Technical Physics, DLR, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany

We present a finite-volume time-domain (FVTD) method for solving Maxwell’s equations and a new general method for the reconstruction of the numerical fluxes based on the use of appropriated test-functions. Our procedure provides a maximum of flexibility in the construction of FVTD schemes, also if highly unstructured grids are considered.In order to capture the characteristic signal propagation we implement a flux-splitting procedure. We demonstrate the benefits and general applicability of this method for simulating time-dependent electromagnetic fields in complex optical structures by simulating the spatiotemporal dynamics of a nonlinear optical photonic band-gap switch. The switch consists of two crossed waveguides with a nonlinear multilayer in the center. In the optical switching process a signal beam propagating in one waveguide is switched by a second strong pump pulse entering the switch perpendicular to the first one by dynamically shifting the nonlinear dielectric properties of the photonic band-gap structure. We observe a pronounced all-optical switching, which shows due to the crossed waveguide setup, only a weak overlay of the signal beam by the pump pulse.