Ultra-Compact High-Speed Electro-Optical Modulator with Extremely Low Energy Consumption Based on Polymer-Filled Hybrid Plasmonic Waveguide

Abstract

In this paper, we propose an ultra-compact highspeed electro-optical modulator with extremely low energy consumption based on silicon-polymer-metal hybrid plasmonic waveguide. Spatial confinement of the optical mode of the hybrid plasmonic waveguide and its dependence on small refractive index changes of the polymer is exploited to control the resonance wavelength in a coupled waveguide ring resonator structure and realize optical intensity modulation. Our theoretical exploration and numerical simulations show that with proper design of the hybrid plasmonic waveguide, modulation speed of over 1 THz with modulation depth of ∼8 dB and extremely low energy consumption of ∼3.6 fJ/bit is achievable in a structure with overall footprint in the order of 11 μm 2 .

Sub-Femtojoule Hybrid Plasmonic Optical Modulator

“…More details of the power consumption calculation are in the supplementary information file. A comparison of the performance of our proposed modulator with a state of the art hybrid plasmonic modulator [34] is given in Table 3.…”

Long-distance coherent detection system based on dual-channel swept source with micro-ring filters

“…The preservation of coherence means that the signal can maintain good phase information even over long distances, enabling high-precision measurements and detection; 14 Second, electrooptic modulation precisely controls the phase of light waves through the electro-optic effect, offering far superior precision over mechanical tuning methods. Precise phase control is particularly important for accurate distance measurement and high-resolution imaging because it allows for more accurate discrimination of phase changes in the signal, thereby enhancing the resolution and precision of detection; 15 Third, electro-optic modulation can achieve very fast tuning, which is a significant advantage for long-distance coherent detection applications requiring rapid scanning; 16 Fourth, since electro-optic modulation does not rely on mechanical moving parts for tuning, it offers better vibration resistance and mechanical stability than mechanical tuning methods, making it particularly suitable for applications sensitive to environmental vibrations or requiring long-term stable operation of the equipment; 17 Fifth, electro-optic modulators can achieve a wider tuning range than acousto-optic tuners because electro-optic modulation is not limited by the characteristics of acousto-optic materials and the efficiency of acousto-optic interactions. 18…”