Diode-clamped symmetric self-electro-optic effect devices with subpicojoule switching energies

Abstract

We describe symmetric self-electro-optic effect devices (S-SEEDs) with clamping diodes connected to the center node of the devices to ensure both diodes of the S-SEEDs have an electric field across them at all times. These diode-clamped S-SEEDs operate over a greater wavelength range, with greater powers before saturating, and have lower optical switching energies compared to conventional S-SEEDs. An 8×8 array of diode-clamped S-SEEDs has been built and tested. We have demonstrated bistable operation with voltage swings of only 2 V over a wavelength range of 15 nm. Required optical switching energies of 340–580 fJ were measured at input powers from 500 nW to 100 μW for devices with 10×10 μm mesas. This is the lowest reported switching energy for any SEED with acceptable bistable characteristics.