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A microelectromechanically tunable asymmetric Fabry-Perot quantum well modulator at 1.55 microm
T H Stievater1, D Park, M W Pruessner
11Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA. stievater@nrl.navy.mil
Optics Express
|October 15, 2008
Summary
We developed a tunable quantum well modulator using microelectromechanical systems for higher contrast ratios. This tunable device overcomes limitations of fixed-cavity modulators, enabling efficient optical C-band operation.
Area of Science:
- Optoelectronics
- Semiconductor devices
- Photonics
Background:
- Asymmetric Fabry-Perot cavities offer higher contrast ratios for quantum well modulators compared to conventional designs.
- Fixed-cavity modulators are sensitive to environmental changes and require precise fabrication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a microelectromechanically tunable asymmetric Fabry-Perot quantum well modulator.
- To overcome the limitations of fixed-cavity designs and achieve high-performance optical modulation.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of an InP-based microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device.
- Integration of a suspended InGaAlAs reflector for tunable cavity resonance.
- Operation within the optical C-band with applied quantum well bias.
Main Results:
- Achieved contrast ratios exceeding 30 (15 dB) at 8 volts bias.
- Demonstrated modulation speeds of 1 MHz.
- Successfully tuned the cavity mode to match quantum well absorption using MEMS actuation.
Conclusions:
- Microelectromechanically tunable asymmetric Fabry-Perot quantum well modulators offer superior performance and robustness.
- This technology enables high-contrast, high-speed optical modulation in the C-band.
- The tunable nature overcomes fabrication sensitivities and environmental fluctuations inherent in fixed-cavity devices.
