Integrated optical modulators with zero index metamaterials based on photonic crystal slab waveguides

摘要

A novel integrated optical modulator design is presented using zero index metamaterial-based Mach-ZehnderInterferometer with photonic crystal phase shifters. The phase modulation relies on the shift between the photonicbandgaps having non-zero and zero effective refractive indices. A small change in the bulk index results in an effectiveindex change between the arms of the MZI due to the disturbance of the band structure. Thus, such a structure provides anew approach for phase modulation on integrated optical systems with the possibility of low insertion losses and lowvoltages.