Performance analysis of the photonic crystal–based X-OR gate for the terahertz applications

Abstract A key component of high-speed switching networks is an optical logic gate. This study presents the design and analysis of an all-optical XOR gate based on a two-dimensional photonic crystal (2D PC) structure, aiming to enhance high-speed switching in optical networks. The XOR gate, with two input and one output waveguide, is constructed on a hexagonal lattice, optimized for operation at a wavelength of 1,550 nm. The design is evaluated using the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) approach, which simulates the optical performance of the structure. Key performance metrics, including the bit rate, contrast ratio, and delay time, are computed, showing that the proposed logic gate achieves a high contrast ratio of 30.35 dB and a minimal delay time of 0.4 ps. The results confirm the potential of this all-optical XOR gate for integration into high-speed optical circuits, offering low power consumption and high efficiency. This work demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing photonic crystal structures for high-performance optical logic gates in future communication systems. The simplicity of fabrication in a two-dimensional photonic crystal (2D-PC)-based all-optical logic gate can often be attributed to its simple design.