Leaky-wave spatial modulator with integrated photonic crystal for all-optical analog-to-digital converters

A spatial light modulator (SLM) device within an all-optical analog to digital converter (AOADC) comprising:

• a first radio frequency (RF) electrode;
• a second RF electrode positioned in-plane and adjacent to the first RF electrode;
• an integrated electro-optic (E-O) polymer based optical waveguide positioned in-plane and sandwiched between the first RF electrode and the second RF electrode, wherein the integrated E-O polymer based optical waveguide is integrated with a photonic crystal (PhC) layer separated from the integrated E-O polymer based optical waveguide by a buffer layer defined by the first RF electrode and the second RF electrode such that the PhC layer is offset transversely with respect to the first RF electrode, the second RF electrode, and the integrated E-O polymer based optical waveguide to form a leaky waveguide structure that re-directs light to form the SLM, wherein a leaky wave exit angle from the integrated E-O polymer based optical waveguide is configured to be controlled by an RF signal applied to the leaky waveguide structure, and wherein the applied RF signal is quantized at discrete time intervals based on a sampling rate of the applied RF signal.