All-optical diode based on dipole modes of Kerr microcavity in asymmetric L-shaped photonic crystal waveguide.

A design of all-optical diode in L-shaped photonic crystal waveguide is proposed that uses the multistability of single nonlinear Kerr microcavity with two dipole modes. Asymmetry of the waveguide is achieved through different couplings of the dipole modes with the left and right legs of the waveguide. Using coupled mode theory we demonstrate an extremely high transmission contrast. The direction of optical diode transmission can be controlled by power or frequency of injected light. The theory agrees with the numerical solution of the Maxwell equations.