Electroabsorption in GaAs/AlGaAs coupled quantum well waveguides

Abstract
A novel GaAs/AlGaAs coupled quantum well structure, consisting of two 46 Å wells separated by a 11.5 Å barrier, was embedded in a leaky waveguide. Polarization anisotropy and quantum‐confined Stark effect absorption changes are observed, and a 14:1 modulator is demonstrated operating at the peak of the first light‐hole transition. Although the lowest energy transitions behave as predicted by tunneling resonance calculations, higher energy states exhibit unusual behavior due to valence‐band mixing.