Integrated optical modulators with zero index metamaterials based on photonic crystal slab waveguides

Yildirim M., GÖVDELİ A., KOCAMAN S.

Conference on Integrated Optics - Devices, Materials, and Technologies XXIII, San-Francisco, Costa Rica, 4 - 07 February 2019, vol.10921, (Full Text) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Full Text
  • Volume: 10921
  • Doi Number: 10.1117/12.2509663
  • City: San-Francisco
  • Country: Costa Rica
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

A novel integrated optical modulator design is presented using zero index metamaterial-based Mach-Zehnder Interferometer with photonic crystal phase shifters. The phase modulation relies on the shift between the photonic bandgaps having non-zero and zero effective refractive indices. A small change in the bulk index results in an effective index change between the arms of the MZI due to the disturbance of the band structure. Thus, such a structure provides a new approach for phase modulation on integrated optical systems with the possibility of low insertion losses and low-voltages.