Open AccessDesign optimization of single and double layer Graphene phase modulators in SOI
Author(s) -
Vito Sorianello,
M. Midrio,
M. Romagnoli
Publication year - 2015
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.23.006478
Subject(s) - graphene , materials science , silicon on insulator , optics , phase modulation , figure of merit , modulation (music) , optoelectronics , silicon , amplitude modulation , refractive index , optical modulator , frequency modulation , bandwidth (computing) , phase noise , computer science , telecommunications , nanotechnology , physics , acoustics
In this paper we report on an electro-refractive modulator based on single or double-layer graphene on top of silicon waveguides. The graphene layers are biased to the transparency condition in order to achieve phase modulation with negligible amplitude modulation. By means of a detailed study of both the electrical and optical properties of graphene and silicon, as well as through optimization of the geometrical parameters, we show that the proposed devices may theoretically outperform existing modulators both in terms of V(π)L and of insertion losses. The overall figures of merit of the proposed devices are as low as 8.5 and 2dB∙V for the single and double layer cases, respectively.