Title :
Traveling-wave photodetectors
Author :
Giboney, Kirk S. ; Rodwell, Mark J.W. ; Bowers, John E.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., California Univ., Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Abstract :
The authors propose and analyze the traveling-wave photodetector (TWPD), an edge-coupled photodetector that is capable of both a larger absolute bandwidth and a larger bandwidth-efficiency product than the waveguide photodetector (WGPD). The intrinsic RC bandwidth limitation is increased in the traveling-wave photodetector by providing for controlled transmission of the electrical wave down the device in parallel with the optical wave and by eliminating bandwidth-limiting electrical reflections. It is shown that 1- mu m wide, parallel-plate, GaAs/AlGaAs, p-i-n TWPD with open-circuit input termination has a 26% greater potential bandwidth-efficiency product than the comparable WGPD, while a TWPD with matched input termination actually has a worse bandwidth-efficiency product than the WGPD.<>
Keywords :
III-V semiconductors; aluminium compounds; gallium arsenide; integrated optics; optical waveguides; photodetectors; 1 micron; GaAs-AlGaAs; absolute bandwidth; bandwidth-efficiency product; bandwidth-limiting electrical reflections; controlled transmission; edge-coupled photodetector; electrical wave; intrinsic RC bandwidth limitation; optical wave; parallel-plate; semiconductors; traveling-wave photodetector; Bandwidth; Gallium arsenide; Impedance matching; Optical control; Optical devices; Optical reflection; Optical waveguides; PIN photodiodes; Photodetectors; Radio control;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
