Segmented waveguide structures
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology
InventorsMichael Hochberg, Tom Baehr-Jones, Chris Walker, Jeremy Witzens, Lawrence Gunn, Axel Scherer
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Abstract
Various embodiment comprise silicon-on-insulator waveguide designs that simultaneously achieve both high optical confinement, low-loss, and provide for electrical connections. In certain embodiments, high index contrast waveguides comprise a central elongate waveguide portion and a segmented portion comprising a single thin layer of Silicon-On-Insulator that achieves both high optical confinement and minimal insertion loss. Other devices, such as chemical and biological sensors, and optical elements may also be fabricated.
Claims31
A waveguide structure for supporting an optical mode having a wavelength, λ, comprising:
- an elongate waveguide portion;
- a plurality of segments extending from said an elongate waveguide portion, wherein the plurality of segments comprises conductive material;
- at least one electrical contact formed with a section of the plurality of segments, wherein the electrical contact is configured to be substantially removed from the supported optical mode propagating in the elongate waveguide portion;
- and
- cladding disposed about said elongate waveguide portion,
- wherein said plurality of segments has a periodicity on the order of said wavelength, λ.
24-61. (canceled)
A waveguide structure for supporting an optical mode having a wavelength, λ, comprising:
- an elongate waveguide portion;
- a plurality of segments extending from the elongate waveguide portion;
- at least one electrical contact formed with a portion of the plurality of segments;
- and
- cladding disposed about the elongate waveguide portion.
A high index contrast waveguide structure for propagating a wavelength, λ, comprising:
- an elongate waveguide portion;
- a plurality of segments extending from said elongate waveguide portion, said plurality of segments having periodicity so as to produce coherent scattering and reduce reflection;
- at least one electrical contact formed with a section of the plurality of segments;
- and
- cladding disposed about said elongate waveguide portion, wherein said elongate waveguide portion and said cladding have sufficiently high index contrast so as to support an optical mode having a full width half maximum intensity having a width of about twice said wavelength, λ, or less.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.