A scheme for an all-optical Kerr modulator based on a carbon nanotube resonator is proposed. Theoretical analysis has shown that the enhanced optical Kerr effect can be modulated instantaneously while tuning the intensity of the control field. This control laser, like a modulator, dramatically controls the magnitude of the optical Kerr effect in the carbon nanotube. We attribute this tunable optical Kerr effect to the vibration of carbon nanotube, which makes a contribution to additional auxiliary energy levels so that the optical Kerr effect can be realized. Using this optical Kerr modulator, we also provide a method to measure the vibrational frequency of the carbon nanotube in an all-optical domain.

• Received 17 November 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.83.115445