Static and dynamic wavelength routing via the gradient optical force

We propose and demonstrate an all-optical wavelength routing approach that uses a tuning mechanism based upon the optical gradient force in a specially designed nano-optomechanical system. The resulting mechanically compliant 'spiderweb' resonator realizes seamless wavelength routing over a range of 3,000 times the intrinsic channel width, with a tuning efficiency of 309 GHz mW^(-1), a switching time of less than 200 ns, and 100% channel quality preservation over the entire tuning range. These results indicate the potential for radiation pressure actuated devices to be used in a variety of photonics applications, such as channel routing/switching, buffering, dispersion compensation, pulse trapping/release and widely tunable lasers.