Title :
Quantum well vertical light modulator
Author :
Chmielowski, Marek ; Langer, Dietrich W.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng., Pittsburgh Univ., PA, USA
fDate :
4/1/1989 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A waveguide modulator is proposed whose operation is based on the dissipative coupling of light from a waveguide into an appropriate quantum-well structure. This approach uses the electric-field-induced change of the refractive index for light modulation. A particular geometrical configuration is numerically evaluated. The advantages of this configuration are that the combination of high switching speed ( approximately=1 ps), high on/off ratios (e.g. 1/16 dB or 2/25 dB), and low-driving voltage (4 V) could be combined in one device. The proposed modulator exhibits negligible phase shifts when the attenuation is smaller than about 10 dB.<>
Keywords :
III-V semiconductors; aluminium compounds; electro-optical devices; gallium arsenide; optical couplers; optical modulation; refractive index; semiconductor quantum wells; 4 V; GaAlAs; attenuation; dissipative coupling; electric-field-induced change; high on/off ratios; high switching speed; low-driving voltage; phase shifts; quantum well vertical light modulator; refractive index; semiconductor; ternary AlGaAs; Electrooptic modulators; High speed optical techniques; Intensity modulation; Optical attenuators; Optical modulation; Optical refraction; Optical variables control; Optical waveguides; Phase modulation; Quantum well devices;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
