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Dielectric waveguides with embedded graphene nanoribbons for all-optical broadband modulation

All-optical processing offers low power consumption and fast operation speed and is a promising approach to high-bit-rate communication. Realization of all-optical integrated photonics requires core materials that strongly mediate photon–photon interaction. Recently, it was shown that, in the long-w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Optical materials express 2019-11, Vol.9 (11), p.4456
Main Authors: Karimi, F., Knezevic, I.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:All-optical processing offers low power consumption and fast operation speed and is a promising approach to high-bit-rate communication. Realization of all-optical integrated photonics requires core materials that strongly mediate photon–photon interaction. Recently, it was shown that, in the long-wavelength limit, graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) have a very strong Kerr optical nonlinearity in the telecom wavelength range (1.3−1.6ðoe‡m). We propose a dielectric waveguide with embedded GNRs for all-optical self-amplitude-modulation applications. By implanting a van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure consisting of GNRs and hexagonal boron nitride into a rib silicon waveguide, we maximize the optical concentration near the GNRs and enhance nonlinear optical effects. Different-width GNRs incorporated in the vdW heterostructure provide strong self-sustaining broadband modulation over the telecom frequency range, without a need for dynamical tuning. The compact footprint and self-sustaining, broad-bandwidth saturable absorption make the proposed device a suitable component for ultrafast nanophotonic applications.
ISSN:2159-3930
2159-3930
DOI:10.1364/OME.9.004456