Left: Schematic of parallel-coupled dual racetrack resonators. Ein and Eout are the input and output fields of the central waveguide.
Right: Simulated intensity variations as the refractive index (Δn) of the waveguides in the top and bottom racetracks are modulated.
Invention Summary:
A parallel-coupled dual racetrack micro-resonator structure has been designed for phase-shift keying and M-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM).
This structure comprises two racetrack resonators that are symmetrically side-coupled in parallel to a through waveguide in the center. The carriers can be injected or removed from the racetrack resonators using a pin diode or metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitor embedded in a silicon waveguide. The plasma dispersion effect of the injected carriers causes a change of refractive index in each resonator, modifying the cross-coupled resonances of the two racetrack resonators. The amplitude and phase of output optical signal can be controlled by the applied voltage to generate arbitrary M-ary quadrature signals.
Market Applications:
- Optical communications
- Phase-shift keying
- Quadrature amplitude modulation
Advantages:
- Higher spectral efficiency
- Better tolerance to fiber non-linearity and chromatic dispersion
- Low power consumption
- Compact size, low cost
- Suitable for arbitrary quadrature amplitude modulation
- Resilient against fabrication imperfections
Intellectual Property & Development Status:
Issued Patent. Available for licensing and/or research collaboration.
