Optical Set-Reset Flip-Flop based on Dielectric-Loaded Graphene-Plasmonic waveguides

Abstract

In this paper, an optical Set-Reset (SR) flip-flop based on dielectric-loaded graphene-plasmonic waveguides (DLGPWs) working in the mid-infrared region is presented. The design is based on using an additional signal called Bias and the interference effect between the input signals. The graphene sheet is modeled using the Kubo formula, and the performance of the flip-flop is numerically evaluated utilizing the finite-difference time-domain method (FDTD). Various situations that may occur for the proposed flip-flop as well as the effects of possible imperfections including lack of synchronization between switches and fabrication errors are examined in detail. The minimum extinction ratio (ER) obtained from the time response is equal to 9.95 dB at λ = 10.8 µm which can also be enhanced by increasing the amplitude of the Bias signal. The proposed structure with features such as a footprint of 13.52 μm2, maximum frequency of 886 GHz, and high ER value could pave the way for the design and use of high-speed and efficient optical sequential devices instead of electronic counterparts.