Visible light thermo-optic switches using an Nb₂O₅ waveguide

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Materials Science
• Optoelectronics and Waveguide Technology

Background:

• Visible-light devices require materials with high refractive indices for efficient light manipulation.
• Niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5) possesses a high refractive index in the visible spectrum, making it a potential candidate for optoelectronic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and demonstrate visible-light waveguides and thermo-optic switches using Nb2O5.
• To investigate the material properties and switching performance of Nb2O5 for optoelectronic applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of visible-light waveguides and thermo-optic switches using Nb2O5.
• Characterization of Nb2O5 material properties, including its thermo-optic coefficient.
• Evaluation of the switching performance of the fabricated devices, measuring extinction ratio and response time.

Main Results:

• The thermo-optic coefficient of Nb2O5 was determined to be 2.27 × 10^-5 K^-1.
• The fabricated Nb2O5 thermo-optic switch achieved an extinction ratio of 6.5 dB.
• The switch demonstrated a response time of 77 μs.

Conclusions:

• Nb2O5 is a viable material for fabricating visible-light waveguides and thermo-optic switches.
• The demonstrated performance indicates Nb2O5's potential for miniaturizing visible-light optoelectronic devices.
• Further research into Nb2O5 could lead to advancements in compact photonic integrated circuits.