Ultrafast all-optical switching plays a critical role in the advancement of optical signal processing and sensing technologies, enabling high-speed, energy-efficient data transmission and real-time environmental monitoring. Recent progress in novel materials and structural innovations has significantly improved switching speed and efficiency. However, current designs often face challenges such as limited modulation depth, slow response times, reduced bandwidth, and a lower Extinction Ratio (ER). This work introduces a metamaterial-based optical switch that harnesses the insulator-to-metal phase transition of vanadium dioxide (<InlineEquation ID="IEq1"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="12633_2025_3425_Article_IEq1.gif" Format="GIF" Height="16" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="34" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$VO_2$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mrow> <mi>V</mi> <msub> <mi>O</mi> <mn>2</mn> </msub> </mrow> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>) to overcome these challenges. The optical switch operates within the mid-infrared range (5.4-7 <InlineEquation ID="IEq2"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="12633_2025_3425_Article_IEq2.gif" Format="GIF" Height="12" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="29" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$\mu m$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mrow> <mi>μ</mi> <mi>m</mi> </mrow> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>), achieving a remarkable 97% absorption in the high state and just 10% in the low state. This performance delivers an outstanding ON / OFF contrast ratio of 9.7 and an extinction ratio of 37.45 dB. The innovative integration of a patterned <InlineEquation ID="IEq3"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="12633_2025_3425_Article_IEq1.gif" Format="GIF" Height="16" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="34" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$VO_2$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mrow> <mi>V</mi> <msub> <mi>O</mi> <mn>2</mn> </msub> </mrow> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation> layer with <InlineEquation ID="IEq4"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="12633_2025_3425_Article_IEq4.gif" Format="GIF" Height="16" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="38" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">$SiO_2$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <mrow> <mi>S</mi> <mi>i</mi> <msub> <mi>O</mi> <mn>2</mn> </msub> </mrow> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation> and Cr substrates ensures precise resonant coupling and enables rapid modulation with sub-picosecond switching times (1.27 ps). By overcoming the limitations of previous designs, this switch offers high-speed, tunable optical performance with enhanced bandwidth, making it highly suitable for next-generation infrared sensors, reconfigurable photonic circuits, and high-speed optical communication systems. Its ability to achieve ultrafast modulation and strong contrast makes it a promising device for advanced infrared sensing, optical imaging, and environmental monitoring applications.

Design and Optimization of a Thermally Tunable Vanadium Dioxide-Based Metasurface Optical Switch for Mid-Infrared Applications

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发表日期：

2025年8月4日

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Abida Parveen,
Ahsan Irshad,
Um-e-Kalsoom,
Deepika Tyagi,
Mehboob Alam,
Ali Kazim,
Faisal Ahmad,
Keyu Tao,
Zhengbiao Ouyang

摘要

Ultrafast all-optical switching plays a critical role in the advancement of optical signal processing and sensing technologies, enabling high-speed, energy-efficient data transmission and real-time environmental monitoring. Recent progress in novel materials and structural innovations has significantly improved switching speed and efficiency. However, current designs often face challenges such as limited modulation depth, slow response times, reduced bandwidth, and a lower Extinction Ratio (ER). This work introduces a metamaterial-based optical switch that harnesses the insulator-to-metal phase transition of vanadium dioxide ( $VO_2$ $V O_{2}$ ) to overcome these challenges. The optical switch operates within the mid-infrared range (5.4-7 $\mu m$ $μ m$ ), achieving a remarkable 97% absorption in the high state and just 10% in the low state. This performance delivers an outstanding ON / OFF contrast ratio of 9.7 and an extinction ratio of 37.45 dB. The innovative integration of a patterned $VO_2$ $V O_{2}$ layer with $SiO_2$ $S i O_{2}$ and Cr substrates ensures precise resonant coupling and enables rapid modulation with sub-picosecond switching times (1.27 ps). By overcoming the limitations of previous designs, this switch offers high-speed, tunable optical performance with enhanced bandwidth, making it highly suitable for next-generation infrared sensors, reconfigurable photonic circuits, and high-speed optical communication systems. Its ability to achieve ultrafast modulation and strong contrast makes it a promising device for advanced infrared sensing, optical imaging, and environmental monitoring applications.