Nonlinear sensitivity enhancement with one-dimensional photonic bandgap microcavity arrays

It is shown that an array of microcavities, or defects, in a photonic band-gap lattice can dramatically increase nonlinear sensitivity compared with that of bulk material. These defects open transmission resonances within the bandgap. Nonlinear induced detuning of these resonances can result in a greater than tenfold increase in the nonlinear phase shift relative to that of a bulk material of the same thickness and give a better figure of merit than operating at the band edge of a photonic lattice without defects. (C) 2002 Optical Society of America.