Silicon microring modulator array controlled all optically.

Area of Science:

• Photonics and optical communications
• Integrated optics
• Radio-over-fiber (RoF) systems

Background:

• Silicon photonics offers a promising platform for radio-over-fiber (RoF) applications.
• Current RoF systems often require complex electrical connections for local devices.
• Microring modulators are key components for optical signal modulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate optical heater control of multiple microring modulators.
• To simplify the operation of remote RoF devices by eliminating electrical connections.
• To present a novel configuration for RoF systems using integrated RF antennas and optical heaters.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing microring modulators driven by integrated RF antennas.
• Tuning microring modulator resonance using optical heaters powered by control light.
• Sequentially selecting modulators by designing optical heaters and controlling light power.
• Modulating input signal light with RF signals applied to selected modulators.

Main Results:

• Successful demonstration of optical heater control for four microring modulators.
• Achieved sequential selection of modulators through precise control of optical heaters.
• Validated the modulation of signal light by RF signals via selected microring modulators.

Conclusions:

• Optical heater control provides a viable method for managing microring modulators in RoF systems.
• This approach simplifies RoF device operation, especially for remote locations.
• The concept is scalable to two-dimensional modulator arrays using wavelength-division multiplexing.