Sub-nanosecond light-pulse generation with waveguide-coupled carbon nanotube transducers.

Felix Pyatkov,Manfred M Kappes,Wolfram H P Pernice,Vadim Kovalyuk,Gregory N Goltsman,Ralph Krupke,Svetlana Khasminskaya,Frank Hennrich

doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.5

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have recently been integrated into optical waveguides and operated as electrically-driven light emitters under constant electrical bias. Such devices are of interest for the conversion of fast electrical signals into optical ones within a nanophotonic circuit. Here, we demonstrate that waveguide-integrated single-walled CNTs are promising high-speed transducers for light-pulse generation in the gigahertz range. Using a scalable fabrication approach we realize hybrid CNT-based nanophotonic devices, which generate optical pulse trains in the range from 200 kHz to 2 GHz with decay times below 80 ps. Our results illustrate the potential of CNTs for hybrid optoelectronic systems and nanoscale on-chip light sources.

Highlights

Efficient transducers that allow converting electrical signals into optical ones and vice versa are essential ingredients for emerging applications in on-chip optoelectronic circuits
Beyond continuous wave generation of light, an important aspect that needs to be addressed is the question of how fast a waveguide-coupled Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) transducer can respond to an electrical signal
We investigated the dynamic response and coupling efficiency of waveguide-coupled CNT transducers to electrical signals and analyze the optical pulses propagating in the waveguide

Summary

Introduction

Efficient transducers that allow converting electrical signals into optical ones and vice versa are essential ingredients for emerging applications in on-chip optoelectronic circuits. Optically stimulated light emission from CNTs coupled into waveguides [8] and to cavities [9] has been achieved. Beyond continuous wave generation of light, an important aspect that needs to be addressed is the question of how fast a waveguide-coupled CNT transducer can respond to an electrical signal.

Results

Conclusion