Integrable microwave photonic phase-shifter based on Colloidal Quantum Dots-PMMA waveguide

A novel scheme for controlling microwave signals in the optical domain is proposed by means of Integrable Microwave Photonic Phase-Shifters based on Colloidal Quantum Dots embedded in PMMA waveguides. A phase shift at 1550 nm can be induced when the structures are pumped at 1310 nm or 980 nm due to the refractive index changes provoked by the absorption in the nanocrystals. This paper presents the potential of this novel active waveguides for microwave photonic applications. The potential benefits from the proposed structure are the high tuning speed, the continuous scan of the phase delay, the small size, the capability of integration and the low tuning losses. A continuous phase shift up to 27.5^o at 25 GHz with variations in the RF amplitude lower than 1 dB has been obtained in a 6mm waveguide as a proof of concept.