All-optical comparator based on linear chain of silicon nanoparticles

Abstract

Abstract A simultaneous excitation of two last particles of a finite linear chain of particles by two electromagnetic wave beams with arbitrary amplitudes of the electric field is considered. Using the example of a Si nanosphere chain, that does not support the resonant long-range electromagnetic energy transfer in the visible spectral range, it has been theoretically shown that self-consisted currents excited in a chain composed of a few Si mutually wave interacting nanospheres are related to the amplitude ratio of two incident beams. This technique provides a new way of comparing two optical signals in integrated microphotonic circuits.