High-Efficiency Bistable Switching Based on One-Dimensional Photonic Crystals with Single-Negative Materials

We study theoretically the nonlinear responses of one-dimensional photonic crystals (PCs) composed of alternating two kinds of single-negative (permittivity-negative and permeability-negative) materials embedded with a Kerr-type nonlinear defect layer. In conventional PCs, it is difficult to realize a bistable switching with both low threshold and quick response time. However, in PCs with single-negative materials, by changing the ratio of the thicknesses of the two types of layers, with the decreasing size of the structure, the switching response time is shortened and the threshold intensity decreases simultaneously.