Switching mechanism of an optically-gated optical switch using an organic dye

A versatile optically-gated optical switch using an organic-dye is suitable for light-path switching in an optical communication for various wavelengths of a signal-light. An organic dye for absorbing a gating-light combined with a high-boiling solvent for forming a thermal-lens is properly selected choosing a wavelength of both a gating- and a signal-light. The incidence gating-light passed through a short focal-length lens is absorbed around the focal point and form high-temperature region in the high-boiling solvent, which refract a simultaneously incidence signal-light by a thermal-lens effect. Mechanism of forming a thermal-lens and refracting the signal-light is discussed.