Abstract
Optical waveguides in photonic integrated circuits are traditionally passive elements merely carrying optical signals from one point to another. These elements could contribute to the integrated circuit functionality if they were modulated either by variations of the core optical properties, or by using tunable claddings. In this work, the use of liquid crystals as electro-optically active claddings for driving integrated waveguides has been explored. Tunable waveguides have been modeled and fabricated using polymers. Optical functions such as variable coupling and optical switching have been demonstrated.
Highlights
Photonic integrated circuits (PIC), known as integrated optoelectronic devices, optical chips, planar lightwave circuits or integrated optical circuits [1], are microdevices that combine several photonic functions into the same chip
PICs are considered the photonic equivalent to electronic integrated circuits (EICs), where signals are carried out by visible and near-infrared (NIR) photons rather than electrons
Developments fostering the PIC functionality without increasing its complexity are a possible way to contribute to new PIC realizations
Summary
Photonic integrated circuits (PIC), known as integrated optoelectronic devices, optical chips, planar lightwave circuits or integrated optical circuits [1], are microdevices that combine several photonic functions into the same chip. The main drawback for silicon waveguides to become tunable devices is the big difference in refractive indices between the core (Si, n > 3.0) and the cladding (SiO2, n < 1.50).
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