Fiber all-optical light control with low-dimensional materials (LDMs): Thermo-optic effect and saturable absorption

Abstract

In this paper, we review the recent studies on all-optical light control based on two main nonlinear mechanisms in LDMs: The thermo-optic effect and saturable absorption. The compactness of LDMs makes them the ideal medium for all-optical control systems. Many all-optical devices are demonstrated based on the properties of thermo-optic effects and saturable absorption. The materials characteristics and fabrication and the future prospects for all-optical control will also be shown.