title: Cascaded modulator architecture for WDM applications.
abstract: Integration density, channel scalability, low switching energy and low insertion loss are the major prerequisites for on-chip WDM systems. A number of device geometries have already been demonstrated that fulfill these criteria, at least in part, but combining all of the requirements is still a difficult challenge. Here, we propose and demonstrate a novel architecture consisting of an array of photonic crystal modulators connected by a dielectric bus waveguide. The device architecture features very high scalability and the modulators operate with an AC energy consumption of less than 1fJ/bit. Furthermore, we demonstrate cascadeability and multichannel operation by using a comb laser as the source that simultaneously drives 5 channels.
authors.affiliation: School of Physics & Astronomy, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, UK.
authors.forename: Kapil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Debnath
authors.forename: Liam
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Faolain
authors.forename: Frederic Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Gardes
authors.forename: Andreas G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Steffan
authors.forename: Graham T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Krauss
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D007834:Lasers; D008027:Light; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D055616:Microtechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D055096:Optical Devices; D017655:Silicon Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D013685:Telecommunications / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D017655:Silicon Compounds; C032734:silicon nitride