Department of Physics
![[photo of Susan, Andy and Lucas]](http://www.phy.duke.edu/%7Eqelectron/proj/switch/photos/ClarkDawesIlling-large.JPG) |
| Susan Clark, Andrew Dawes, and Lucas Illing (from left to right).© Dan Gauthier, 2005 |
This research is performed here at Duke University by Dan Gauthier, Andrew Dawes, Lucas Illing, and Susan Clark.
We are interested in understanding nonlinear interactions between light and matter. By exploiting such interactions, we demonstrated an all-optical switch where a weak ``switching'' beam of light controls a much stronger ``output'' beam. We can operate the switch with a switching beam containing as few as 2700 photons. Our goal is to optimize the experiment and achieve few-photon switching.
NEWS: Our paper on "All-optical switching in rubidium vapor" appeared in the April 29, 2005 issue of Science (A.M.C. Dawes, L. Illing, S. M. Clark, and D. J. Gauthier, Science 308, 672 (2005)).
- Article available from Science Online
- Supporting online material available from Science Online
- PDF version (184 kB)
All-optical Switching Resources
![[Switching in action]](http://www.phy.duke.edu/%7Eqelectron/proj/switch/images/animation.gif) |
| © Andrew Dawes and Lucas Illing, 2005 |
- Introduction to All-optical switching
- An introductory explanation of what we do and why it is useful
- Transverse optical patterns
- Transverse optical patterns and where they come from
- Switching with patterns
- An outline of our technique
- Our Experimental Setup
- Pictures and a description of our experimental setup
- Our Results
- The results of our experiment
- FAQ
- Frequently asked questions about all-optical switching in rubidium vapor
- Publications
- Our low-light switching publications and presentations
- News and Links
- News and Links to other resources on all-optical switching
This material is based upon work supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as part of the Slow Light program, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Army Research Office (ARO).