CMOS-compatible optical switching concept based on strain-induced refractive-index tuning
Virgilio M, Witzigmann B, Bolognini G, Guha S, Schroeder T, Capellini G (2015)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2015
Journal
Book Volume: 23
Journal Issue: 5
DOI: 10.1364/OE.23.005930
Abstract
In this paper we present a planar lightwave switching mechanism based on large refractive index variations induced by electrically-driven strain control in a CMOS-compatible photonic platform. Feasibility of the proposed concept, having general validity, is numerically analyzed in a specific case-study given by a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer with Ge waveguides topped by a piezoelectric stressor. The stressor can be operated in order to dynamically tune the strain into the two interferometric arms. The strain modifies the Ge band structure and can induce refractive index variations up to 0.05. We demonstrate that this approach can enable ultracompact devices featuring low loss propagation for light wavelengths below the waveguide band gap energy, high extinction ratios (>30 dB) and low intrinsic insertion losses (2 dB). The operation wavelength can be extended in the whole FIR spectrum by using SiGe(Sn) alloy waveguides.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
University of Pisa / Università di Pisa (UniPi)
Italy (IT)
Universität Kassel
Germany (DE)
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) / National Research Council of Italy
Italy (IT)
Leibniz-Institut für innovative Mikroelektronik / IHP GmbH - Innovations for High Performance Microelectronics
Germany (DE)
Università degli Studi Roma Tre
Italy (IT)
Italy (IT)
Universität Kassel
Germany (DE)
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) / National Research Council of Italy
Italy (IT)
Leibniz-Institut für innovative Mikroelektronik / IHP GmbH - Innovations for High Performance Microelectronics
Germany (DE)
Università degli Studi Roma Tre
Italy (IT)
How to cite
APA:
Virgilio, M., Witzigmann, B., Bolognini, G., Guha, S., Schroeder, T., & Capellini, G. (2015). CMOS-compatible optical switching concept based on strain-induced refractive-index tuning. Optics Express, 23(5). https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.23.005930
MLA:
Virgilio, Michele, et al. "CMOS-compatible optical switching concept based on strain-induced refractive-index tuning." Optics Express 23.5 (2015).
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