Article
Optics
Hanke Feng, Ke Zhang, Wenzhao Sun, Yangming Ren, Yiwen Zhang, Wenfu Zhang, Cheng Wang
Summary: This research demonstrates a highly linear lithium niobate (LN) modulator with an ultra-high spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) using a ring-assisted Mach-Zehnder interferometer configuration. The modulation does not require active feedback controls to suppress third-order intermodulation distortions (IMD3), resulting in a significant improvement over previous results in the thin-film LN platform.
PHOTONICS RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Physics, Applied
Fuhao Yu, Zhaobang Zeng, Xiang Ji, Kaifei Tang, Yu Xin, Guihan Wu, Dun Mao, Tingyi Gu, Qingzhong Huang, Wei Jiang
Summary: This paper reviews the progress of electro-optic modulators composed of silicon-based microscopic photonic structures. The basic principles, device structures, and advanced modulation capability of different geometric types are detailed for micro-ring modulators, photonic crystal modulators, and other related modulators. The article discusses the impacts of these modulators on speed, power consumption, and thermal stabilities, as well as the challenges, further directions, and emerging possibilities for microscopic photonic structure-based silicon modulators.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS D-APPLIED PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Rubab Amin, Rishi Maiti, Jacob B. Khurgin, Volker J. Sorger
Summary: Electro-optic modulators are widely used in various applications such as data communication and photonic neural networks. However, achieving efficient phase-shifting modulators faces fundamental tradeoffs, and no single solution can meet all requirements. By focusing on current-driven modulators, particularly those based on emerging thin electro-optical materials, advancements have been made in realizing unity-strong index modulation suitable for heterogeneous integration into foundry waveguides.
IEEE JOURNAL OF SELECTED TOPICS IN QUANTUM ELECTRONICS
(2021)
Review
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Tianqi Xu, Yuan Dong, Qize Zhong, Shaonan Zheng, Yang Qiu, Xingyan Zhao, Lianxi Jia, Chengkuo Lee, Ting Hu
Summary: This paper reviews the integrated mid-infrared (MIR) electro-optic (EO) modulators based on different modulation mechanisms and material platforms in MIR photonics. The recent research progress, challenges, and applications of MIR EO modulators are presented and discussed. Several areas in integrated MIR modulators that are worth researching in the future are also provided.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Changhao Han, Ming Jin, Yuansheng Tao, Bitao Shen, Xingjun Wang
Summary: Silicon photonics, as an important optoelectronic integration platform, has advantages of low power consumption, low cost, and CMOS compatibility. However, conventional silicon modulators have limitations, leading to the need for new structures to improve their performance. Slow-light effect, which reduces the group velocity of light, is an attractive research point for reducing the device footprint. This paper reviews the recent progress of silicon-based slow-light electro-optic modulators and discusses the challenges and development directions for practical applications.
Article
Optics
Fang Zou, Lei Zou, Ye Tian, Yiming Zhang, Erwin Bente, Weigang Hou, Yu Liu, Siming Chen, Victoria Cao, Lei Guo, Songsui Li, Lianshan Yan, Wei Pan, Dusan Milosevic, Zizheng Cao, Antonius M. J. Koonen, Huiyun Liu, Xihua Zou
Summary: Electro-optic modulation, an important topic in the field of communications and sensing, faces limitations in increasing modulation efficiency due to the monotonic mapping relationship between electrical and optical signals. To overcome this limitation, researchers reveal a new mechanism called phase-transition EO modulation, achieved through the reciprocal transition between distinct phase planes. An integrated mode-locked laser prototype is implemented, achieving an ultrahigh modulation energy efficiency and a high contrast ratio, with applications in radio-over-fiber communication and acoustic sensing. This advancement in EO modulation technology opens up new possibilities for green communication and ubiquitous sensing.
LASER & PHOTONICS REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Wancong Li, Qiang Zhou, Pu Zhang, Xue-Wen Chen
Summary: This study proposes the concept of nanoscopic electron reservoir (NER) for direct electro plasmonic and electro-optic modulation. By exploiting the nonclassical effects of conduction electrons, highly electrically susceptible NERs are constructed and achieve pronounced direct electrical tuning of the plasmon mode. Moreover, the electro-plasmonic tuning can be efficiently translated into modulation of optical scattering.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Optics
Jiawei Mao, Hiromu Sato, Guo-Wei Lu, Shiyoshi Yokoyama
Summary: In this study, a silicon-loaded LN modulator on the insulator substrate is designed and fabricated, featuring a small footprint, a low driving voltage, and high-speed EO modulation. No etching or patterning of the LN is required. The fabricated LN modulator has a high modulation bandwidth and supports high-speed signaling.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Agham B. Posadas, Hyoju Park, Marc Reynaud, Wei Cao, Jamie D. Reynolds, Wei Guo, Vadivukkarasi Jeyaselvan, Ilya Beskin, Goran Z. Mashanovich, Jamie H. Warner, Alexander A. Demkov
Summary: Thick epitaxial BaTiO3 films were successfully grown by off-axis RF magnetron sputtering on SrTiO3-templated silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates. The films exhibit high quality and fast growth rates compared to those grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Analysis of lattice parameters revealed changes in in-plane and out-of-plane lattice spacings within the thick films, with sputtered films retaining their out-of-plane polarization orientation for larger thicknesses. Additionally, a method for achieving 100% a-axis-oriented films was studied, although resulting films showed voids and misoriented grains. Electro-optic measurements demonstrated high Pockels coefficients for the sputtered BTO films, indicating their potential use in integrated electro-optic modulators for Si photonics.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Optics
Ming Jin, Ziyi Wei, Yanfang Meng, Haowen Shu, Yuansheng Tao, Bowen Bai, Xingjun Wang
Summary: This paper summarizes the developments in silicon-based graphene EO modulators, highlighting their potential applications in optical communications and microwave photonics. It discusses the challenges and potential future applications for silicon-based graphene EO modulators.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Laurens Breyne, Joris Lambrecht, Michiel Verplaetse, Xin Yin, Gunther Roelkens, Peter Ossieur, Johan Bauwelinck
Summary: A novel method is introduced to embed finite-impulse-response filters in slow-wave Mach-Zehnder modulators, allowing the adjustment of the electro-optic frequency response to designer's needs. The position of delay lines and crossings, along with the length of delay lines in the modulator, determine the final response. Experimental validation on a silicon photonic modulator and C-band transmission experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of this technique.
JOURNAL OF LIGHTWAVE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Optics
Lei Zhang, Xinyu Sun, Hongyan Yu, Niping Deng, Feng Qiu, Jiyong Wang, Min Qiu
Summary: In this study, a compact electro-optic modulator is integrated on the endfaces of a single-mode optical fiber jumper for fast amplitude modulations. It utilizes ultrathin and high quality-factor plasmonic metasurfaces, nanofabrication-friendly and highly efficient EO polymers, and coupling-free connections with fiber networks. The modulator allows dual-band operations and high-speed modulations.
LIGHT-SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Siyu Xu, Zhihao Ren, Bowei Dong, Jingkai Zhou, Weixin Liu, Chengkuo Lee
Summary: Mid-infrared spectroscopy is a promising technique for molecule identification and label-free chemical sensing. Integrated photonic platforms built on lithium niobate substrates offer a solution to the electroabsorption issue in mid-infrared photonics. The proposed silicon-on-lithium-niobate platform demonstrates the potential for implementing integrated mid-infrared spectroscopic sensing systems.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yuewen Gao, Yu Gu, Toshiaki Iitaka, Zhi Li
Summary: It is discovered that semiconductors synthesized under high pressure, such as MgSiN2, SrSiN2, and BaSiN2, can exhibit a large bandgap and high linear electro-optic coefficient due to the enhanced valence bond strength. The research demonstrates the feasibility of enhancing the linear electro-optic coefficient through high-pressure treatment.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Brian S. Lee, Bumho Kim, Alexandre P. Freitas, Aseema Mohanty, Yibo Zhu, Gaurang R. Bhatt, James Hone, Michal Lipson
Summary: Graphene-based electro-optic modulators demonstrate higher bandwidth and performance at low temperatures, offering a solution to the reduced bandwidth issue of existing integrated modulators in cryogenic applications.
Article
Physics, Applied
Thomas Christopoulos, Vasileios G. Ataloglou, Emmanouil E. Kriezis
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2020)
Article
Optics
Thomas Christopoulos, Odysseas Tsilipakos, Emmanouil E. Kriezis
JOURNAL OF THE OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA B-OPTICAL PHYSICS
(2020)
Article
Optics
Thomas Christopoulos, Odysseas Tsilipakos, Emmanouil E. Kriezis
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Dimitrios C. Zografopoulos, Jose Francisco Algorri, Walter Fuscaldo, Jose Miguel Lopez-Higuera, Ricardo Vergaz, Jose Manuel Sanchez-Pena, Ion-Anastasios Karolos, Romeo Beccherelli, Vassilios E. Tsioukas, Traianos V. Yioultsis, Emmanouil E. Kriezis
Summary: An all-dielectric metasurface with a strong toroidal resonance is designed and demonstrated as an angular-dependent resonant polarization beam-splitter in the microwave K-band. By tuning the angle of incidence through mechanical rotation, the metasurface can switch between polarization beam splitting and bandpass or bandstop operation. The experimental demonstration shows that theoretically infinite extinction ratios are achievable for polarization beam splitting with very low insertion losses and adjustable bandwidth.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Alexandros Pitilakis, Dimitrios Chatzidimitriou, Traianos V. Yioultsis, Emmanouil E. Kriezis
Summary: The study introduces an integrated device for a nonlinear broadband isolator, utilizing graphene layers for ultrafast and low-threshold saturable absorption. By modeling the device as a non-Hermitian system and performing numerical simulations, it verifies the nonreciprocal transmission capability. The combination of saturable absorption and self-phase modulation in graphene results in two nonreciprocal intensity ranges with opposite directionality.
IEEE JOURNAL OF QUANTUM ELECTRONICS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Applied
Georgios Sinatkas, Thomas Christopoulos, Odysseas Tsilipakos, Emmanouil E. Kriezis
Summary: Electro-optic modulators play a crucial role in determining the transmission rate of photonic communication systems. Recent advancements in materials and fabrication techniques have brought new elements to research on optical modulation. This Perspective reviews the current state of integrated electro-optic modulators, covering a wide range of materials and platforms, and highlights important considerations for researchers in physics and engineering.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Applied
Odysseas Tsilipakos, Luca Maiolo, Francesco Maita, Romeo Beccherelli, Maria Kafesaki, Emmanouil E. Kriezis, Traianos V. Yioultsis, Dimitrios C. Zografopoulos
Summary: Symmetry-protected resonances can be coupled with free space by introducing geometric asymmetry, leading to controllably sharp spectral response. A broken-symmetry metasurface for low millimeter wave spectrum was experimentally demonstrated, with low loss and flexible structure. The fabrication process provides a generic platform for large-scale engineering of metasurfaces with minimal substrate-induced effects.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Applied
Georgios Nousios, Thomas Christopoulos, Odysseas Tsilipakos, Emmanouil E. Kriezis
Summary: This study assesses the performance of a silicon-on-insulator disk resonator overlaid with a graphene monolayer in continuous wave and dynamic routing at telecommunication wavelengths. The switching action is enabled by saturable absorption in graphene, controlled by a low power pump wave. The study provides insights into the impact of carrier dynamics on the performance of practical graphene-based switching components.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Dimitrios Chatzidimitriou, Dimitrios C. Zografopoulos, Emmanouil E. Kriezis
Summary: This study demonstrates the theoretical application of graphene saturable absorption for saturable absorption mirrors based on planar silicon photonic Bragg gratings. Two geometries, silicon wire grating and silicon slot grating, were investigated to showcase the enhanced interaction between light and matter in high-confinement slot waveguides. The effects of other nonlinear properties, such as silicon's Kerr effect and two photon absorption, were also considered but were shown to have a negligible impact compared to graphene's saturable absorption.
IEEE PHOTONICS JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Optics
Alexandros Pitilakis, Emmanouil E. Kriezis
Summary: We outline a comprehensive model for ultrafast optical pulse propagation along nonlinear graphene-comprising integrated photonic waveguides. Our proposed model includes the GHEM theory and demonstrates various pulsed applications relevant to integrated photonic components.
JOURNAL OF THE OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA B-OPTICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Applied
Georgios Nousios, Thomas Christopoulos, Odysseas Tsilipakos, Emmanouil E. Kriezis
Summary: In this study, we assess the performance of a photonic laser cavity composed of a silicon-rich-nitride-on-insulator disk resonator overlaid with a transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD) bilayer heterostructure. By using a rigorous theoretical framework based on perturbation theory and temporal coupled-mode theory, we propose a silicon-on-insulator-compatible optical source capable of emitting milliwatt power inside an integrated waveguide.
PHYSICAL REVIEW APPLIED
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Thomas Christopoulos, Emmanouil E. Kriezis, Odysseas Tsilipakos
Summary: This article proposes an efficient method for analyzing third harmonic generation in nanoparticles and metasurfaces incorporating 2D materials, based on numerically calculating the quasinormal modes in the nanostructure. Unlike conventional coupled-mode theory approaches, this method does not require any prior assumptions regarding the number of resonances involved in the conversion process.
Proceedings Paper
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Alexandros Pitilakis, Emmanouil Kriezis
2021 CONFERENCE ON LASERS AND ELECTRO-OPTICS EUROPE & EUROPEAN QUANTUM ELECTRONICS CONFERENCE (CLEO/EUROPE-EQEC)
(2021)
Article
Optics
Dimitrios Chatzidimitriou, Alexandros Pitilakis, Traianos Yioultsis, Emmanouil E. Kriezis
Summary: The study explores the breaking of reciprocity in non-Hermitian coupled photonic waveguides through saturable absorption and the presence of exceptional points, providing important performance metrics for nonreciprocal operation of such devices with potential for high-speed applications.