Gain-assisted electroabsorption modulators

A light modulator comprising;

• a waveguide routing light of wavelength λ;
• and
• a resonator coupled to said waveguide such that a portion of said light is input to said resonator, said resonator having a resonance at λ and comprising a gain region in which light of wavelength λ is amplified and an absorption region in which light of wavelength λ is absorbed, said absorption region having first and second states, said first state absorbing less light of wavelength λ than said second state, said state of said absorption region being determined by an electrical signal coupled to said absorption region;
• wherein said resonator comprises a layered structure having a quantum well layer, said quantum well layer having different bandgap energies in said gain and absorption regions;
• wherein said waveguide comprises a waveguide region in said layered structure, said waveguide region being different from said gain and absorption regions in said layered structure and wherein said quantum well layer in said waveguide region and said gain region has different bandgap energies.

A light modulator comprising;

• a waveguide routing light of wavelength λ;
• and
• a resonator coupled to said waveguide such that a portion of said light is input to said resonator, said resonator having a resonance at λ and comprising a gain region in which light of wavelength λ is amplified and an absorption region in which light of wavelength λ is absorbed, said absorption region having first and second states, said first state absorbing less light of wavelength λ than said second state, said state of said absorption region being determined by an electrical signal coupled to said absorption region;
• wherein said resonator is vertically coupled to said waveguide.

A method for modulating a light signal of wavelength λ traveling in a waveguide, said method comprising:

• coupling a portion of said light into a resonator having a resonance at λ;
• attenuating said light in said resonator by either a first or second attenuation factor;
• and
• amplifying light traveling in said resonator by an amount that is less than or equal to said first attenuation factor.