Open AccessElectro-optical switching using coupled photonic crystal waveguides
Author(s) -
Ahmed Sharkawy,
Shouyuan Shi,
Dennis W. Prather,
Richard A. Soref
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.10.001048
Subject(s) - optical switch , materials science , optics , photonic crystal , optoelectronics , conductance , silicon photonics , insertion loss , coupling coefficient of resonators , silicon , finite difference time domain method , photonics , hexagonal lattice , physics , resonator , condensed matter physics , antiferromagnetism
We present an electro-optical switch implemented in coupled photonic crystal waveguides. The switch is proposed and analyzed using both the FDTD and PWM methods. The device is designed in a square lattice of silicon posts in air as well as in a hexagonal lattice of air holes in a silicon slab. The switching mechanism is a change in the conductance in the coupling region between the waveguides and hence modulating the coupling coefficient and eventually switching is achieved. Conductance is induced electrically by carrier injection or is induced optically by electron-hole pair generation. Low insertion loss and optical crosstalk in both the cross and bar switching states are predicted.