Design of an all-optical AND gate with optimized response-time and area via nanostructured metamaterial: Light–matter interaction analysis

Abstract

The work presents the design and performance evaluation of an all-optical AND logic gate exploiting the light beam interference effect. It showcases a novel configuration of oriented air-holes meticulously drilled into a silicon substrate, forming an easy-to-fabricate two-dimensional photonic crystal (2D-PC) arrangement. The comprehensive examination of the proposed gate has been carried out using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. Results demonstrate the gate’s capability to accurately satisfy its truth tables at a calculated wavelength of 1550 nm, which is imperative for C-band fiber-optic communication systems. The device’s structure boasts a unique 60-degree bend geometry to obtain a compact structure with minimum device area of $40.8\mu m$² and a substantially high contrast ratio (CR) of 8.15. The response time of 0.12 ps is the lowest among the state-of-the-art 2D-PC AND gates, as per the authors’ knowledge.