RESUMEN
In this Letter we demonstrate broadband electro-optic modulation with frequencies of up to 40 GHz in slotted photonic crystal waveguides based on silicon-on-insulator substrates covered and infiltrated with a nonlinear optical polymer. Two-dimensional photonic crystal waveguides in silicon enable integrated optical devices with an extremely small geometric footprint on the scale of micrometers. The slotted waveguide design optimizes the overlap of the optical and electric fields in the second-order nonlinear optical medium and, hence, the interaction of the optical and electric waves.
RESUMEN
We present a novel concept of a compact, ultra fast electro-optic modulator, based on photonic crystal resonator structures that can be realized in two dimensional photonic crystal slabs of silicon as core material employing a nonlinear optical polymer as infiltration and cladding material. The novel concept is to combine a photonic crystal heterostructure cavity with a slotted defect waveguide. The photonic crystal lattice can be used as a distributed electrode for the application of a modulation signal. An electrical contact is hence provided while the optical wave is kept isolated from the lossy metal electrodes. Thereby, well known disadvantages of segmented electrode designs such as excessive scattering are avoided. The optical field enhancement in the slotted region increases the nonlinear interaction with an external electric field resulting in an envisaged switching voltage of approximately 1 V at modulation speeds up to 100 GHz.