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 (similar to 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.