High Index Contrast Waveguide Cladding for Low Power Optical Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nonlinear optical systems require high optical power to exploit materials with large χ2 and χ3 moments, limiting their effective use in manipulating light at low power levels.
Innovation Solution
A substrate with a high index contrast waveguide and cladding made of crystalline materials that generate an electric field intensity of at least 105 V/m in response to an input voltage of not more than 1 volt, allowing for efficient manipulation of light at low power levels through enhanced nonlinear optical effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional waveguide structures are used, then the system can operate with standard materials, but excessive optical power is required to achieve nonlinear optical effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a high index contrast region specifically at the waveguide core-cladding interface. The cladding material is engineered with a refractive index closely matching the core material, concentrating the optical field locally at the interface where nonlinear optical effects are desired, rather than distributing the field uniformly throughout the waveguide structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining a core material (such as silicon) with a cladding material that has specifically engineered optical properties. The cladding is designed to have a refractive index very close to the core material, creating a composite structure that enhances field confinement and interaction at the interface, thereby improving nonlinear optical effect efficiency at lower power levels.
2Reliability
If high optical power is used to achieve nonlinear optical effects, then the effects can be observed, but the system becomes less practical for low power applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the refractive index parameter of the cladding material to be very close to that of the core material. This parameter change creates high index contrast conditions that enhance optical field confinement and intensity at the waveguide interface, enabling nonlinear optical effects to occur at lower optical power levels than conventional structures.
3Illumination intensity
If the cladding material has a refractive index close to the core material, then field confinement is enhanced, but the waveguide structure becomes more complex to fabricate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a high index contrast region specifically at the waveguide core-cladding interface. The cladding material is engineered with a refractive index closely matching the core material, concentrating the optical field locally at the interface where nonlinear optical effects are desired, rather than distributing the field uniformly throughout the waveguide structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the concentration of light to enhance nonlinear optical effects, facilitating operations such as optical rectification and logic operations at lower power levels compared to conventional systems, with applications in optical modulation, sensing, and frequency conversion.
Implementation Method 1
materials, such as crystalline materials such as barium titanate, lithium niobate, or polymers, having large nonlinear optical characteristics
Implementation Method 2
The high index contrast waveguide and the cladding are configured so that an electric field intensity of at least 10^5 V/m is generated in a selected one of the high index contrast waveguide and the cladding in response to an input voltage of not more than 1 volt
Implementation Method 3
the cladding comprising a crystalline material that exhibits an enhanced nonlinear optical coefficient
Implementation Method 4
facilitating operations such as optical rectification and logic operations
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for manipulating light with high index contrast waveguides clad with crystalline substances having that exhibit large nonlinear electro-optic constants χ2 and χ3. Waveguides fabricated on SOI wafers and clad with crystalline materials such as barium titanate are described. Embodiments of waveguides having slots, electrical contacts, and input waveguide couplers are discussed. Waveguides having closed loop structures (such as rings and ovals) as well as linear or serpentine waveguides, are described. Optical signal processing methods, such as optical rectification and optical modulation, are disclosed.