Semiconductor-based broadband modulators
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsLeslie A. Kolodziejski, Gale S. Petrich, Orit Shamir
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Abstract
An optical modulator is provided. The optical modulator includes a ridge-shaped active region comprising a plurality of alternating high and low index layers. The ridge-shaped active region is used to confine a selective optical mode for optical modulation. A plurality of oxidized layers positioned so as to confine the selective optical mode in the middle region of the ridge-shaped active region. The oxidized layers enable the optical modulator to withstand high operating voltages both in reverse and forward bias without concern of breakdown or carrier loss.
Claims15
An optical modulator comprising:
- a ridge-shaped active region comprising a plurality of alternating high and low index layers along with a plurality of similar lateral material construction and one or more cladding elements, said ridge-shaped active region is used to confine a selective optical mode for optical modulation;
- and
- a plurality of oxidized layers positioned above and below said ridge-shaped active region and plurality of similar index materials laterally constructed so as to confine the selective optical mode in the middle region of said ridge-shaped active region, said oxidized layers enable the optical modulator to withstand high operating voltages both in reverse and forward bias without concern of breakdown or carrier loss and said similarities in vertical and lateral construction enable minimization in polarization dispersion.
A method of forming an optical modulator comprising:
- forming a ridge-shaped active region comprising a plurality of alternating high and low index layers along with a plurality of similar lateral material construction and one or more cladding elements, said ridge-shaped active region is used to confine a selective optical mode for optical modulation;
- and
- forming a plurality of oxidized layers positioned above and below said ridge-shaped active region and plurality of similar index materials laterally constructed so as to confine the selective optical mode in the middle region of said ridge-shaped active region, said oxidized layers enable the optical modulator to withstand high operating voltages both in reverse and forward bias without concern of breakdown or carrier loss and said similarities in vertical and lateral construction enable minimization in polarization dispersion.
An arrayed waveguide grating structure comprising:
- a plurality of phased array of waveguides positioned between two free propagation regions, each of said phased array of waveguides comprising:
- a ridge-shaped active region comprising a plurality of alternating high and low index layers along with a plurality of similar lateral material construction and one or more cladding elements, said ridge-shaped active region is used to confine a selective optical mode for optical;
- and
- a plurality of oxidized layers positioned above and below said ridge-shaped active region and plurality of similar index materials laterally constructed so as to confine the selective optical mode in the middle region of said ridge-shaped active region, said oxidized layers enable the optical modulator to withstand high operating voltages both in reverse and forward bias without concern of breakdown or carrier loss.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.