Domain-Inverted Electrooptic Polymers for High-Speed Polarization-Insensitive 2X2Cross Bar Switches

摘要

The primary objectives of the Phase I work were to explore the feasibility andadvantages of using domain inverted polymers, to improve the performance of electrooptic modulators, and to establish the technical foundation for the design and fabrication of a new class of electrooptical modulators with improved performance, simplified structure, and relaxed fabrication tolerance. The improved performance includes high modulation efficiency, a highly linearized modulation transfer curve, high-speed operation, low driving voltage, and polarization-insensitive operation. By accomplishing the tasks of the Phase I effort, we have established the theoretical and technical foundation for the realization of high performance Y-branch waveguide modulators based on domain-inverted polymers and a uniform traveling-wave electrode. At present, all the building blocks essential for the fabrication and modeling of the proposed innovative devices are available. The achievements strongly encourage us to pursue further RD efforts in Phase II, aimed at the fabrication of high performance EO modulators as required by BMDO and Air Force for their advanced RF photonic system. High-speed optical analog modulators also play an important role in a wide variety of practical applications, including CATV fiber optic links, optoelectronic interconnects and microwave instruments.