Performance of optical delay lines and nonlinear devices based on slow wave propagation in photonic crystal waveguides in the presence of higher order dispersion is analyzed and compared with other slow light schemes, such as coupled resonators and media with electromagnetically-induced transparence. It is shown that higher order dispersion severely limits the bit rate of the system. Novel methods for increasing the bit rate are proposed and analyzed. These methods range from mundane dispersion-compensation schemes to the most elaborate methods using adiabatic changes and various parametric processes. The conclusion is that while the slow light is definitely not a "silver bullet", there still might be a practical niche for it.

Prof. Khurgin graduated with an M.S. degree in optics from the Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1979. In 1980 he immigrated to the US, and joined Philips Research Laboratories, of Philips Electronics N.V., in Briarcliff Manor, NY. He worked at Philips eight years working on miniature solid-state lasers, II-VI semiconductor lasers, various display and lighting fixtures, x-ray imaging, and small appliances, while pursuing his graduate studies at Polytechnic Institute of New York. In 1987 he received his Ph.D. in electrophysics. In January 1988, he joined the Electrical Engineering department of Johns Hopkins University where he is currently a tenured faculty member. Currently, Prof. Khurgin is working in the areas of mid-infrared lasers and detectors, plasmonics, laser cooling, rf photonics, IR detectors, phonon engineering for high-frequency transistors, coherent optical communications, and slow light propagation. His publications include six book chapters, over 210 papers in referred journals and 14 patents. Prof. Khurgin is a Fellow of the Optical Society of America.

Center for Materials Research

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

• Jacob B. Khurgin (2010), "Slow and Fast Light - Penetrating the Fog ," https://nanohub.org/resources/10192.

  BibTex | EndNote

1. nanophotonics
2. photonic crystals
3. photonics
4. slow light