Photonic Modulator and Switch

Abstract

The invention taught herein provides a method, device and system for modulating or switching electromagnetic radiation by controlling a state of the radiation, such as a polarization state. Radiation is directed at a reflective or transmissive structure, such that the radiation is incident on the structure. The structure includes a property that can be dynamically switched between two configurations, one of which is asymmetric and is configured to modify the polarization characteristic of the radiation. The dynamically configurable structure can be combined with polarization components to achieve modulation. Embodiments suitable for mode-locking a laser and for cavity dumping a mode-locked laser are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for modifying a quantum state of electromagnetic radiation, said system comprising:
 an optical source that generates a first ensemble of photons with a first quantum state;   a reflective element with a dynamically configurable property to which said ensemble of photons is applied;   a signal generator with which a signal is generated and applied to said reflective element with a dynamically configurable property, such that at least a portion of said first ensemble of photons with a first quantum state is switched to at least one second ensemble of photons with a quantum state different from the quantum state of said first ensemble of photons.   
     
     
         2 . A system for modifying a quantum state of electromagnetic radiation, said system comprising:
 an optical source that generates a first ensemble of photons with a first quantum state;   a transmissive element with a dynamically configurable property to which said ensemble of photons is applied;   a signal generator with which a signal is generated and applied to said transmissive element with a dynamically configurable property, such that at least a portion of said first ensemble of photons with a first quantum state is switched to at least one second ensemble of photons with a quantum state different from the quantum state of said first ensemble of photons.   
     
     
         3 . A device for modifying a quantum state of electromagnetic radiation, said device comprising:
 a transmissive element with a dynamically configurable property to which said a first ensemble of photons with a first quantum state is applied;   a signal generator with which a signal is generated and applied to said transmissive element with a dynamically configurable property, such that at least a portion of said first ensemble of photons with a first quantum state is switched to at least one second ensemble of photons with a quantum state different from the quantum state of said first ensemble of photons.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , further including a polarizing element configured to output one or more components of the said at least one second ensemble of photons with a polarization vector orthogonal to the polarization vector of said first ensemble of photons. 
     
     
         5 . A device for modifying a quantum state of electromagnetic radiation, said device comprising:
 a reflective element with a dynamically configurable property to which said a first ensemble of photons with a first quantum state is applied;   a signal generator with which a signal is generated and applied to said reflective element with a dynamically configurable property, such that at least a portion of said first ensemble of photons with a first quantum state is switched to at least one second ensemble of photons with a quantum state different from the quantum state of said first ensemble of photons.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , further including a polarizing element configured to output one or more components of the said at least one second ensemble of photons with a polarization vector orthogonal to the polarization vector of said first ensemble of ph