All-optical switching mediated by magnetic nanoparticles.

We demonstrate the switching of light in the near-infrared region (1.55 microm) through the manipulation of magnetic nanoparticles in a magnetic fluid by using another light in the visible region (0.532 microm). The formation of a photonic gap is found in the magnetic fluid when a laser light or a magnetic field is applied. A shift of the photonic gap to longer wavelengths is observed with increasing laser power or magnetic field strength.

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