Highly efficient ultrafast optical Kerr shutters with the use of organic nonlinear materials

A highly efficient ultrafast optical Kerr shutter is studied with the use of newly synthesized organic low-molecular-weight compounds. A solution of 4-(N,N-diethylamino)-β-nitrostyrene gives a material response time of 4.0 ps. A 1-m-long and 4-μm-diameter-core fiber waveguide filled with the organic solution successfully reduces the gate power to less than 1 W. A group-delay analysis shows that picosecond switching operation is feasible with the solution fiber waveguide. The application of solid media for the purpose of faster switching operation is carried out with a solid block of 2,5-dichloro-terephthal-bis-(4-N,N-diethylaminoaniline) doped in poly(methyl methacrylate).