Discrete photonics in waveguide arrays

Opt Lett. 2009 Aug 15;34(16):2462-4. doi: 10.1364/ol.34.002462.

Abstract

In homogeneous arrays of coupled waveguides, Floquet-Bloch waves are known to travel freely across the waveguides. We introduce a systematic discussion of the built-in patterning of the coupling constant between neighboring waveguides. Key patterns provide functions such as redirecting, guiding, and focusing these waves, up to nonlinear all-optical routing. This opens the way to light control in a functionalized discrete space, i.e., discrete photonics.