Acoustooptic interactions in AlGaAs-GaAs planar multilayer waveguide structures

Author

Thompson, Cameron ; Weiss, Bernard L.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electron. & Electr. Eng., Surrey Univ., Guildford, UK

Volume

33

Issue

9

fYear

1997

fDate

9/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1601

Lastpage

1607

Abstract

The acoustooptic interaction of guided optical waves and surface acoustic waves (SAW´s) is studied in multilayered structures of dimensions of the order of those seen in multiple-quantum-well (MQW) structures. The guided mode profiles and SAW-induced electric field and strain profiles are used to calculate the diffraction efficiency, using an expression derived from coupled mode theory. Diffraction efficiency is plotted as a function of SAW frequency, and the effects of acoustic power, acoustic aperture, and material structure are considered. For a specific structure, the diffraction efficiency is seen to increase with increasing aluminum content for low concentrations and the opposite is seen for higher concentrations. This is explained in terms of the opposing effects of guided optical mode parameters and material properties. Possibilities for optimization of the diffraction efficiency through tailoring of the refractive index profile of the material structure are suggested

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; acousto-optical effects; aluminium compounds; coupled mode analysis; gallium arsenide; light diffraction; optical films; optical planar waveguides; optical waveguide theory; optimisation; refractive index; surface acoustic wave waveguides; AlGaAs-GaAs planar multilayer waveguide structures; SAW-induced electric field; acoustic aperture; acoustic power; acoustooptic interactions; coupled mode theory; diffraction efficiency; guided optical mode parameters; guided optical waves; material structure; multilayered structures; optimization; refractive index profile; strain profiles; surface acoustic waves; Acoustic diffraction; Acoustic waves; Nonhomogeneous media; Optical diffraction; Optical materials; Optical refraction; Optical surface waves; Optical variables control; Quantum well devices; Surface acoustic waves;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.622642

Filename

622642