Prospects for high-Tc superconducting optoelectronics

Abstract

Two possible approaches for the development of a complete optoelectronic system with the elements based on high‐temperature superconducting (HTS) films are discussed. The first approach consists of manufacturing the devices made of conventional electro‐optic materials and containing HTS transmission lines and electrodes. The second, more futuristic approach, is to exploit contrasting properties of the oxygen‐poor and oxygen‐rich HTS phases to fabricate novel, monolithic devices. In this latter case, a laser writing process is implemented to define superconducting and nonsuperconducting regions in the same, epitaxial HTS film Several practical devices, such as high‐speed interconnects, high‐frequency traveling‐wave optical modulators, picosecond electrical pulse generators, sensitive photodetectors, and a novel HTS charging‐effect transistor are proposed. All the devices can operate in the 30–80 K temperature range, where refrigeration is cheap and the parameters of semiconducting (e.g., GaAs) devices are optimal.