Novel sub-terahertz wave modulator based on photonic crystals

• DOI: 10.1117/12.754739
• Publication Date: 2007-11-12T12:20:38Z
• Authors: Jiu-sheng Li; Jian-rui Li
• Keywords: 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering; 02 engineering and technology

In this paper, we have proposed a novel compact sub-terahertz wave modulator based on silicon photonic crystals. In our proposed structure, the photonic crystals are made up of p-i-n silicon. As the free carriers are injected, the photonic band gap of p-i-n silicon photonic crystals shifts. The light modulation mechanism of the novel sub-terahertz wave modulator is based on a dynamic shift of the photonic band gap (PBG). The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is used to investigate the performances of the designed sub-terahertz wave modulator. The simulation results show the sub-terahertz wave modulator with a high extinction ratio (-40 dB), low insertion loss (-1dB), rapid response time, and small size can be obtained. Being its small size, the novel sub-terahertz wave modulator can be used in future sub-terahertz wave integrated circuits.