T-shaped silicon waveguide coupled with a micro-ring resonator-based Fano resonance modulator

Area of Science:

• Photonics and optical engineering
• Semiconductor device physics
• Nanophotonics

Background:

• Fano resonance provides asymmetric, sharp spectral peaks for enhanced optical modulation.
• Micro-ring resonators (MRRs) are key components in optical modulation.
• Existing MRR modulators face limitations in wavelength sensitivity and linearity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and investigate a novel silicon optical modulator based on Fano resonance.
• To couple a micro-ring resonator (MRR) with a T-shaped waveguide for Fano resonance.
• To evaluate the performance improvements over conventional MRR modulators.

Main Methods:

• Design of a silicon optical modulator incorporating Fano resonance principles.
• Coupling a micro-ring resonator (MRR) with a T-shaped waveguide.
• Optimization of the doping section and Fano resonance line shape.
• Analysis of modulation depth, insertion loss, and linearity.

Main Results:

• The Fano resonant modulator exhibits a significantly smaller wavelength shift for intensity changes (0.07x compared to MRR).
• Achieved a high modulation depth of 12.44 dB.
• Obtained a low insertion loss of 0.41 dB.
• Demonstrated improved modulation linearity.

Conclusions:

• The designed Fano resonant silicon optical modulator offers superior performance characteristics.
• This single-cavity Fano resonance modulator presents a new approach for optical modulation.
• The device shows potential for advanced photonic integrated circuits.