A wide-spectrum mid-infrared electro-optic intensity modulator employing a two-point coupled lithium niobate racetrack resonator

Hyeon Hwang; Kiyoung Ko; Mohamad Reza Nurrahman; Kiwon Moon; Jung Jin Ju; Sang-Wook Han; Hojoong Jung; Min-Kyo Seo; Hansuek Lee

doi:10.1063/5.0235751

journal article Open Access Jan 01, 2025

A wide-spectrum mid-infrared electro-optic intensity modulator employing a two-point coupled lithium niobate racetrack resonator

Hyeon Hwang

Kiyoung Ko

Mohamad Reza Nurrahman Kiwon Moon

Jung Jin Ju Sang-Wook Han

Hojoong Jung

Min-Kyo Seo Hansuek Lee

APL Photonics Vol. 10 No. 1 · AIP Publishing

View at Publisher Save 10.1063/5.0235751

Abstract

Optical intensity modulators (OIMs) are essential for mid-infrared (mid-IR) photonics, enabling applications such as bond-selective molecular sensing, and free-space communications via atmospheric windows. Integrated photonics offers a compact and cost-effective solution, yet on-chip mid-IR OIMs significantly underperform compared to their near-IR counterparts. Furthermore, despite the potential benefits for system reconfiguration in accessing various communication frequencies and molecular absorption bands, developing a single OIM capable of operating across a broad spectral range remains a challenge. In this study, we introduce an on-chip OIM that operates over a wide wavelength range in the mid-IR, implemented using a racetrack resonator structure in thin film lithium niobate (TFLN). The modulator employs a two-point coupling scheme, allowing active control of the coupling strength to maintain critical coupling and thereby ensuring high modulation extinction across a wide spectral region. This approach not only achieves high modulation performance but also relaxes the design constraints and fabrication precision typically associated with resonator-based modulators, as confirmed through an analytic model. Implemented in TFLN having a wide transmission spectrum and strong electro-optic coefficient, the OIM demonstrates a modulation extinction ratio exceeding 20 dB with an electro-optic efficiency of 7.7 V cm over the wavelength range of 3.3–3.8 μm, which falls within the first atmospheric transmission widow in the mid-IR. This approach can be adapted to other spectral regions, providing a versatile solution for diverse photonic applications.

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References

Details

Published: Jan 01, 2025
Vol/Issue: 10(1)
License: View

Authors

H

Hyeon Hwang

Department of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) 1 , Daejeon 34141,

K

Kiyoung Ko

Department of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) 1 , Daejeon 34141,

M

Mohamad Reza Nurrahman

Department of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) 1 , Daejeon 34141,

K

Kiwon Moon

Electronics and Telecommunication Research Institute (ETRI) 2 , Daejeon 34129,

J

Jung Jin Ju

Electronics and Telecommunication Research Institute (ETRI) 2 , Daejeon 34129,

S

Sang-Wook Han

Center for Quantum Technology, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) 3 , Seoul 02792,; Division of Quantum Information, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology 4 , Seoul 02792,; KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University 5 , Seoul 02841,

H

Hojoong Jung

Center for Quantum Technology, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) 3 , Seoul 02792,

M

Min-Kyo Seo

Department of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) 1 , Daejeon 34141,

H

Hansuek Lee

Department of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) 1 , Daejeon 34141,; Graduate School of Nanoscience and Technology, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) 6 , Daejeon 34141,

Funding

National Research Foundation of Korea Award: RS-2024-00350185

National Research Council of Science and Technology Award: 21031-200

Samsung Award: SRFC-IT1801-03

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology Award: Cross-Generation Collaborative Lab project

Cite This Article

Hyeon Hwang, Kiyoung Ko, Mohamad Reza Nurrahman, et al. (2025). A wide-spectrum mid-infrared electro-optic intensity modulator employing a two-point coupled lithium niobate racetrack resonator. APL Photonics, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0235751

A wide-spectrum mid-infrared electro-optic intensity modulator employing a two-point coupled lithium niobate racetrack resonator

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