Open AccessGraphene-assisted control of coupling between optical waveguides
Author(s) -
Andrea Locatelli,
Antonio-Daniele Capobianco,
M. Midrio,
Stefano Boscolo,
Costantino De Angelis
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.20.028479
Subject(s) - graphene , materials science , optics , coupling (piping) , optoelectronics , silicon , power dividers and directional couplers , waveguide , coupled mode theory , diffraction , silicon photonics , refractive index , nanotechnology , physics , metallurgy
The unique properties of optical waveguides electrically controlled by means of graphene layers are investigated. We demonstrate that, thanks to tunable losses induced by graphene layers, a careful design of silicon on silica ridge waveguides can be used to explore passive PT-symmetry breaking in directional couplers. We prove that the exceptional point of the system can be probed by varying the applied voltage and we thus propose very compact photonic structures which can be exploited to control coupling between waveguides and to tailor discrete diffraction in arrays.