Wavelength-tunable silicon microring modulator

Opt Express. 2010 May 24;18(11):10941-6. doi: 10.1364/OE.18.010941.

Abstract

We present a wavelength-tunable, compact, high speed and low power silicon microring modulator. With a ring radius of 5 microm, we demonstrate a modulator with a high speed of 12.5 Gbps and a driving voltage of 3 V to achieve approximately 6 dB extinction ratio in high speed measurement. More importantly, tunability of the resonant wavelength is accomplished by means of a microheater on top of the ring, with an efficiency of 2.4 mW/nm (2.4 mW is needed to tune the resonant wavelength by 1 nm). This device aims to solve the narrow bandwidth problem of silicon microcavity modulators and increase the data bandwidth in optical interconnect systems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Heating / instrumentation*
  • Miniaturization
  • Refractometry / instrumentation*
  • Silicon*
  • Telecommunications / instrumentation*
  • Transducers*

Substances

  • Silicon