Abstract
Nonreciprocal components are essential in photonic systems for protecting light sources and for signal routing functions. Acousto-optic methods to produce nonreciprocal devices offer a foundry-compatible alternative to magneto-optic solutions and are especially important for photonic integration. In this paper, we experimentally demonstrate a dynamically reconfigurable nonreciprocal acousto-optic modulator at the telecom wavelength with a peak contrast of 8 dB and a 3 dB bandwidth of 1.1 GHz. The modulator can be arranged in a multitude of reciprocal and nonreciprocal configurations by means of an external RF input. The dynamic reconfigurability of the device is enabled by a new cross-finger interdigitated piezoelectric transducer that can change the directionality of the reciprocity-breaking acoustic excitation based on the phase of the RF input. The methodology we demonstrate here may enable new avenues for direction dependent signal processing and optical isolation.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 126103 |
| Journal | APL Photonics |
| Volume | 4 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 1 2019 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
- Computer Networks and Communications