Fast Self-Focusing of Light in a Photorefractive Semiconductor for Reconfigurable Optical Communications

We theoretically and experimentally report on fast self-focusing of light in a photorefractive semiconductor. In these applications, semiconductor materials are very attractive considering their high sensitivity at telecommunication wavelengths (1.55 mum), short response time and memory effect. Photorefractive self- focusing and soliton interactions lead to self-induced and reconfigurable semiconductor waveguide which would find interesting applications in optical communications, optical routing or interconnections.