Low insertion loss modulator based on a vertically coupled photonic crystal resonator

Abstract

We experimentally demonstrate a simple but more efficient technique to modulate and multiplex multiple WDM channels. Our design is based on a bus waveguide vertically coupled to multiple Photonic Crystal (PhC) resonator, each of which modulates an individual channel in place. The Photonic crystal resonator modulator provide very low switching energies (~fJ) while the bus waveguide can be made from a material with a low refractive index thereby allowing very efficient coupling with an optical fiber.