Thermo-optically tunable silicon photonic crystal light modulator.
We designed, fabricated, and characterized a thermo-optically tunable compact (10 μm × 10 μm) silicon photonic crystal (PhC) light modulator that operates at around 1.55 µm for TE polarization. The operational principle of the device is the modulation of the cutoff frequency in a silicon-based line defect PhC. The cutoff frequency is shifted because of the thermo-optic tuning of the silicon refractive index, which is realized by localized heating on the PhC. The modulator is formed by a triangular lattice array of cylindrical air holes on a silicon-on-insulator wafer. Optical characterization was carried out, and the result clearly showed thermo-optic tuning of the cutoff frequency at around 1.55 µm.
Department of Electrical Engineering, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA. yonghao.cui@colorado.edu
Yonghao
Y
Cui
Ke
K
Liu
Duncan L
DL
MacFarlane
Jeong-Bong
JB
Lee