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A graphene-based broadband optical modulator.

Ming Liu1, Xiaobo Yin, Erick Ulin-Avila

  • 1NSF Nano-scale Science and Engineering Center, 3112 Etcheverry Hall, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.

Nature
|May 10, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Monolayer graphene enables compact, high-speed optical modulators for on-chip optical interconnects. This breakthrough offers ultrafast modulation speeds and broad wavelength operation, paving the way for advanced optical communication systems.

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Area of Science:

  • Photonics and optoelectronics
  • Materials science
  • Electrical engineering

Background:

  • Integrated optical modulators are crucial for on-chip optical interconnects, but existing silicon-based devices have large footprints due to weak electro-optical properties.
  • Germanium and compound semiconductors present integration challenges with silicon platforms.
  • Resonator-enhanced silicon modulators offer increased strength but suffer from narrow bandwidth and stringent fabrication requirements.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate a broadband, high-speed, waveguide-integrated electroabsorption modulator using monolayer graphene.
  • To overcome the limitations of existing modulator technologies, such as large footprints and narrow bandwidths.
  • To explore graphene's potential as a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible material for optical modulation.

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Main Methods:

  • Fabrication of a waveguide-integrated electroabsorption modulator based on monolayer graphene.
  • Electrical tuning of the Fermi level in the graphene sheet to modulate guided light.
  • Characterization of modulation speed, operational spectrum, and device footprint.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated modulation of guided light at frequencies exceeding 1 GHz.
  • Achieved a broad operation spectrum from 1.35 to 1.6 µm under ambient conditions.
  • The graphene modulator exhibited an exceptionally small active device area of 25 µm², highlighting high modulation efficiency.

Conclusions:

  • Monolayer graphene is a promising material for developing compact, high-speed, broadband optical modulators.
  • The demonstrated graphene-based modulator offers advantages in footprint, operation voltage, and modulation speed.
  • This technology can enable novel architectures for on-chip optical communications and advanced photonic integrated circuits.