An all-optical switch includes a microsphere optical resonator coated with a
conjugated
polymer. A signal light beam propagating along a first SPARROW waveguide defining
a throughput channel is evanescently coupled into the resonant whispering gallery
modes (WGM) of the microsphere, and out of the microsphere onto a second SPARROW
waveguide defining a drop channel. A secondary switching light beam is used to
heat the microsphere resonator, thereby shifting its resonant frequency so that
it no longer overlaps with the signal beam frequency. Light coupling into the microsphere
and onto the drop channel is thus eliminated, and the signal beam is switched from
the drop channel to the throughput channel. The time constant for the WGM resonant
frequency shifting was about 165 ms, indicating thermo-optic switching capabilities
at speeds on the order of 100 microseconds for high-Q modes. Multiple frequencies
or channels can be routed using a switch configuration with multiple microspheres
and drop channels.