Silicon-Organic Hybrid Modulators Based on a Coupled One-Dimensional Photonic Crystal Slot Resonator Waveguide

High-speed and energy-efficient optical interconnects critically rely on electro-optical (EO) modulators, whose performance metrics struggle to meet the exponentially increasing demands of the near future. Silicon-organic hybrid (SOH) modulators present a promising solution due to the favorable elec...

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Main Authors: Yanmei Li, Likang Yan, Yang Feng, Jinzhao Wang, Rui Li, Weiming Yao, Yong Yao, Xiaochuan Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2025-01-01
Series:IEEE Photonics Journal
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Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10964245/
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author Yanmei Li
Likang Yan
Yang Feng
Jinzhao Wang
Rui Li
Weiming Yao
Yong Yao
Xiaochuan Xu
author_facet Yanmei Li
Likang Yan
Yang Feng
Jinzhao Wang
Rui Li
Weiming Yao
Yong Yao
Xiaochuan Xu
author_sort Yanmei Li
collection DOAJ
description High-speed and energy-efficient optical interconnects critically rely on electro-optical (EO) modulators, whose performance metrics struggle to meet the exponentially increasing demands of the near future. Silicon-organic hybrid (SOH) modulators present a promising solution due to the favorable electro-optic coefficients and fast response times of EO organic materials. However, the waveguide&#x0027;s nature limits the effective interaction between photons and EO materials. Although this interaction can be enhanced by utilizing advanced structures such as slot waveguides and slow-light techniques, new challenges arise, including strong dispersion that compromises bandwidth. In this paper, we propose a novel low-dispersion, slow-light waveguide structure based on a coupled one-dimensional photonic crystal slot resonator waveguide (coupled 1D PC SROW). By cascading multiple coupled resonators, the structure creates a low-dispersion, slow-light region within the photonic bandgap. Combining the strong optical field confinement of the slot with the slow-light enhancement in the time domain, modulation efficiency, quantified by <italic>V<sub>&#x03C0;</sub>L</italic>, can be significantly improved. As an example, we demonstrate that a <italic>V<sub>&#x03C0;</sub>L</italic> of 0.57 Vmm can be achieved for a low-dispersion wavelength range of 2.55 nm. The improvement in modulation efficiency allows for a reduction in the phase shifter length to 119 &#x03BC;m, overcoming the bandwidth limitations imposed by spatial walk-off between the electrical and optical waves and enabling a bandwidth of 108 GHz, a value challenging for conventional approaches. This study presents a viable alternative for realizing compact, ultra-broadband, and energy-efficient optical modulators.
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issn 1943-0655
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spelling doaj-art-b46e60ff955840f0bf3906c66b1016f12025-08-20T01:48:20ZengIEEEIEEE Photonics Journal1943-06552025-01-011731710.1109/JPHOT.2025.356037710964245Silicon-Organic Hybrid Modulators Based on a Coupled One-Dimensional Photonic Crystal Slot Resonator WaveguideYanmei Li0Likang Yan1Yang Feng2Jinzhao Wang3Rui Li4Weiming Yao5Yong Yao6https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4229-955XXiaochuan Xu7https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6035-2900School of Information Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, ChinaSchool of Information Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, ChinaSchool of Information Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, ChinaSchool of Information Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, ChinaSchool of Information Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, ChinaSchool of Information Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, ChinaSchool of Information Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, ChinaSchool of Information Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, ChinaHigh-speed and energy-efficient optical interconnects critically rely on electro-optical (EO) modulators, whose performance metrics struggle to meet the exponentially increasing demands of the near future. Silicon-organic hybrid (SOH) modulators present a promising solution due to the favorable electro-optic coefficients and fast response times of EO organic materials. However, the waveguide&#x0027;s nature limits the effective interaction between photons and EO materials. Although this interaction can be enhanced by utilizing advanced structures such as slot waveguides and slow-light techniques, new challenges arise, including strong dispersion that compromises bandwidth. In this paper, we propose a novel low-dispersion, slow-light waveguide structure based on a coupled one-dimensional photonic crystal slot resonator waveguide (coupled 1D PC SROW). By cascading multiple coupled resonators, the structure creates a low-dispersion, slow-light region within the photonic bandgap. Combining the strong optical field confinement of the slot with the slow-light enhancement in the time domain, modulation efficiency, quantified by <italic>V<sub>&#x03C0;</sub>L</italic>, can be significantly improved. As an example, we demonstrate that a <italic>V<sub>&#x03C0;</sub>L</italic> of 0.57 Vmm can be achieved for a low-dispersion wavelength range of 2.55 nm. The improvement in modulation efficiency allows for a reduction in the phase shifter length to 119 &#x03BC;m, overcoming the bandwidth limitations imposed by spatial walk-off between the electrical and optical waves and enabling a bandwidth of 108 GHz, a value challenging for conventional approaches. This study presents a viable alternative for realizing compact, ultra-broadband, and energy-efficient optical modulators.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10964245/Silicon-organic hybrid (SOH) electro-optic (EO) modulatorslow-light effectcoupled-cavityone-dimensional defect photonic crystal
spellingShingle Yanmei Li
Likang Yan
Yang Feng
Jinzhao Wang
Rui Li
Weiming Yao
Yong Yao
Xiaochuan Xu
Silicon-Organic Hybrid Modulators Based on a Coupled One-Dimensional Photonic Crystal Slot Resonator Waveguide
IEEE Photonics Journal
Silicon-organic hybrid (SOH) electro-optic (EO) modulator
slow-light effect
coupled-cavity
one-dimensional defect photonic crystal
title Silicon-Organic Hybrid Modulators Based on a Coupled One-Dimensional Photonic Crystal Slot Resonator Waveguide
title_full Silicon-Organic Hybrid Modulators Based on a Coupled One-Dimensional Photonic Crystal Slot Resonator Waveguide
title_fullStr Silicon-Organic Hybrid Modulators Based on a Coupled One-Dimensional Photonic Crystal Slot Resonator Waveguide
title_full_unstemmed Silicon-Organic Hybrid Modulators Based on a Coupled One-Dimensional Photonic Crystal Slot Resonator Waveguide
title_short Silicon-Organic Hybrid Modulators Based on a Coupled One-Dimensional Photonic Crystal Slot Resonator Waveguide
title_sort silicon organic hybrid modulators based on a coupled one dimensional photonic crystal slot resonator waveguide
topic Silicon-organic hybrid (SOH) electro-optic (EO) modulator
slow-light effect
coupled-cavity
one-dimensional defect photonic crystal
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10964245/
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