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All-optical nonvolatile optical modulator for in-fiber operation
Zhihai Liu1, Xiang Li1, Siying Cheng1
1Key Lab of In-Fiber Integrated Optics, Ministry Education of China, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001, P.R. China.
Nanophotonics (Berlin, Germany)
|December 5, 2024
Summary
We developed a nonvolatile, all-optical modulator using phase-change materials for in-fiber data processing. This device enables energy-efficient, high-speed optical communication without photoelectric conversion.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Materials Science
- Optical Communications
Background:
- The information age demands high-speed, low-energy photonic systems for data transmission, processing, and storage.
- Transitioning from electro-optic to all-optical modulators is key, but volatile materials in current devices increase energy consumption.
- Nonvolatile materials are needed for energy-efficient all-optical modulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and demonstrate a novel all-optical, nonvolatile optical modulator for in-fiber operation.
- To leverage the phase-change properties of Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) for optical modulation.
- To enable signal transmission, processing, and storage within optical fibers without photoelectric conversion.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) integrated all-optical modulator for in-fiber operation.
- Induced GST phase transitions with optical pulses to alter fiber end-face reflectivity.
- Achieved modulation of output light intensity through interference spectra analysis.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a 13-dB interference intensity contrast in telecommunications bands.
- Achieved a response time of approximately 100 nanoseconds (ns) to pump pulses.
- Successfully operated the device as a scalar multiplication and logic operation unit.
Conclusions:
- The developed GST-based modulator offers nonvolatile, energy-efficient optical modulation for in-fiber applications.
- The device exhibits low switching power consumption (<100 nJ) and nonvolatile data retention.
- This in-fiber modulator is a foundational step towards advanced all-optical devices and networks.
