Optical modulator

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical modulator. The optical modulator comprises a substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode, a waveguide and a heat-inducing layer, wherein the first electrode, the second electrode and the waveguide are arranged on the same surface of the substrate at intervals; one end of the heat-inducing layer is connected with the first electrode, and the other end of theheat-inducing layer is connected with the second electrode; sequentially arranged through holes are arranged on the waveguide along an optical transmission direction; the heat-inducing layer at leastcovers the through holes, and the heat-inducing layer is used for converting electric energy of an external electric field into heat energy, so that the temperature of each of the heat-inducing layerand the temperature of the waveguide is increased, the refractive indexes of the waveguide and the heat-inducing layer or the waveguide are changed, the intensity of light transmitting through the waveguide is changed, and the regulation and control of a light spectrum are realized. The optical modulator disclosed by the invention has high modulation depth, small device area, and less energy consumption.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to the field of optoelectronic technology, and more specifically, to an optical modulator. Background technique [0002] Electro-optic modulators are widely used as important key functional devices in communication systems. Traditional electro-optic modulators, such as inorganic modulators and III-V semiconductor modulators, have their own advantages and disadvantages. [0003] Two-dimensional materials represented by graphene and black phosphorus have physical and chemical properties that are difficult for traditional three-dimensional conventional materials. For example, the band gap of black phosphorus changes with the number of layers, and it has ultra-high carrier mobility and strong thermal Light effects, etc., these properties make it possible to use high-performance electro-optic modulators based on two-dimensional materials. Many graphene-based modulators mainly use the evanescent field interaction between graphe...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Many graphene-based modulators mainly use the evanescent field interaction between graphene and waveguide, which has low efficiency and is not conducive to improving the extinction ratio of the modulator.

Although the interaction between materials and light can be enhanced through special structures such as ring resonators and hybrid waveguides, overall there are still defects such as small modulation depth, high energy consumption, and large device volume.

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