Numerical simulation of a silicon-on-insulator waveguide Fabry-Perot interferometer for intensity light modulators at 1.3 μm

Author

Vonsovici, Adrian ; Orobtchouk, Regis ; Koster, Alain

Author_Institution

Inst. d´´Electron. Fondamentale, Univ. de Paris-Sud, Orsay, France

Volume

15

Issue

11

fYear

1997

fDate

11/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2124

Lastpage

2129

Abstract

We present a new silicon-on-insulator (SOI) integrated optics structure to be used as an intensity light modulator at 1.3 μm. The device consists of a waveguide Fabry-Perot interferometer. In association with a grating coupler this device could function as a spatial light modulator or a reflective-mode modulator. The Fabry-Perot reflectivity is tuned by free-carrier injection from a forward-biased lateral P⁺/N^-/N⁺ diode. Consequently, the reflected back guided-mode has an intensity that is a function of the effective index modulation in the central waveguide of the Fabry-Perot. Our numerical simulation reveals that such a structure could function for current densities not exceeding 500 A/cm² with a cutoff frequency of 100 MHz. This new type of device is compatible with the mature silicon technology and could replace in applications the standard liquid-crystal spatial light modulators or for fiber-to-the-home intensity modulators

Keywords

Fabry-Perot interferometers; current density; electro-optical modulation; integrated optics; optical planar waveguides; optical waveguide components; silicon-on-insulator; spatial light modulators; 1.3 mum; 100 MHz; Fabry-Perot reflectivity; SOI integrated optics structure; Si; central waveguide; current densities; cutoff frequency; effective index modulation; fiber-to-the-home intensity modulators; forward-biased lateral P⁺/N^-/N⁺ diode; free-carrier injection; grating coupler; intensity light modulators; numerical simulation; reflected back guided-mode; reflective-mode modulator; silicon-on-insulator waveguide Fabry-Perot interferometer; spatial light modulator; Fabry-Perot interferometers; Gratings; Integrated optics; Intensity modulation; Numerical simulation; Optical coupling; Optical modulation; Optical waveguides; Reflectivity; Silicon on insulator technology;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/50.641532

Filename

641532