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Graphene-silicon phase modulators with gigahertz bandwidth

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Sorianello, V 
Midrio, M 
Contestabile, G 
Asselberghs, I 
Van Campenhout, J 

Abstract

The modulator is a key component in optical communications. Several graphene-based amplitude modulators have been reported based on electro-absorption. However, graphene phase modulators (GPMs) are necessary for functions such as applying complex modulation formats or making switches or phased arrays. Here, we present a 10 Gb s -1 GPM integrated in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer configuration. This is a compact device based on a graphene-insulator-silicon capacitor, with a phase-shifter length of 300 μm and extinction ratio of 35 dB. The GPM has a modulation efficiency of 0.28 V cm at 1,550 nm. It has 5 GHz electro-optical bandwidth and operates at 10 Gb s -1 with 2 V peak-to-peak driving voltage in a push-pull configuration for binary transmission of a non-return-to-zero data stream over 50 km of single-mode fibre. This device is the key building block for graphene-based integrated photonics, enabling compact and energy-efficient hybrid graphene-silicon modulators for telecom, datacom and other applications.

Description

Keywords

Journal Title

Nature Photonics

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1749-4885
1749-4893

Volume Title

12

Publisher

Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/G030480/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/G042357/1)
Royal Society (TG102524)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/K01711X/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/K017144/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/M507799/1)
European Commission (264694)
European Commission (604391)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/L016087/1)
European Commission Horizon 2020 (H2020) ERC (206409)
European Commission Horizon 2020 (H2020) Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) (696656)
EPSRC (via University of Manchester) (R119256)
The Royal Society (uf072943)
The Royal Society (wm090070)
Isaac Newton Trust (1135(N))
Royal Society (516002K5698/kk)
European Commission (246026)
European Research Council (319277)