Modulator of the present invention can allow the semiconductor lamella of light transmission of wavelength coverage broad form by some.This modulator can modulate that its wavelength that the back is about to speak of equals or near a series of emission or catoptrical phase places that have the discrete wavelength of simple relation each other, again can modulate emission light or catoptrical intensity.Adjust the size and/or the structure of modulator and can in a broad range, select these discrete operation wavelengths arbitrarily.Modulation is to be undertaken by changing into the voltage that modulator work is added on it.
One aspect of the present invention provides the electrooptic modulator with a kind of like this structure.One has the monocrystal chip of some refractive index, dispose the inner reflector that first group of oriented growth single crystalline layer forms on the substrate successively, one resonant cavity layer and the external reflection device that forms by second group of oriented growth single crystalline layer, it (is one or more layers of inner reflector that this structure has a part at least, substrate and resonant cavity layer) conduct electricity, and be P-type conduction or n type conduction, another part at least of this structure (being one or more layers of external reflection device and resonant cavity layer) conducts electricity, and be n type conduction or P-type conduction, but its conduction type is different with a described part.This structure also comprises respectively carries out first and second electric installations that resistance contacts with the described part of described structure with described another part, thereby toward described electric installation when applying voltage, described structure just is added with reverse bias, so that electric field is added to the two ends of described resonant cavity layer, thereby change the refractive index that described electric field changes the resonant cavity layer by changing described bias voltage, with the light by modulator in use of modulation correspondingly.
Each layer of forming reverberator, its refractive index and thickness can size alternately change, so that reach have λ/2 or the synthesis cycle of its odd-multiple optical thickness, wherein λ is that this special modulator is treated the longest wavelength value in a series of presumable discrete wavelength of light modulated.
Adjust the size and/or the structure of modulator and can in the scope of a broadness, select these discrete wavelength that works arbitrarily.
In another embodiment, the composition of reverberator, thereby the refractive index of reverberator can be to change continuously or change piecemeal, so that make the synthesis cycle that reaches have the optical thickness of λ/2 or its odd-multiple.
Refractive index Nr(V) as appearing at the function of the electric field in the resonant cavity layer and change, this electric field then be because of at least since the potential difference (PD) V that on this resonant cavity, applies the outside in certain specific direction some specific polarization by the light of this resonant cavity layer cause.
At wavelength is under the λ m, the light transmission capacity maximum of modulator, and wherein λ m can be obtained by following formula:
m=0,1,2,……
Wherein θ is that light is in the propagation angle of resonant cavity layer with respect to this layer normal, phase
1, φ
2(following being about to spoken of) and refractive index Nr(V) be meant the light of when voltage V is added between the metal layer of modulator, in this resonant cavity layer, propagating with any specific communication mode of allowing." m " can be selected in 0 to 20 scope.
φ
1And φ
2Limit by the following relationship formula:
r
i=r
1e×p(jφ
1)
R wherein
1Be included in the amplitude of the reflectivity of each thin layer in the inner reflector, φ
1It is the phase shift under this reflectivity.
r
0=r
2e×p(jφ
2)
R wherein
2Be the amplitude of the reflectivity of each layer of external reflection device, φ
2Be the phase shift under this reflectivity.
Inner reflector adjoins that one deck refractive index Nb of resonant cavity layer and the refractive index Na that the external reflection device is close to that one deck of resonant cavity layer, should be when any particular job voltage is arranged at the modulator two ends, the refractive index Nr(V of resonant cavity layer) have any one relation in following two relations:
If Na<Nr(O), Nb<Nr(O) then
Perhaps if Na>Nr(O), Nb>Nr(O) then
In addition, usually at φ
1+ φ
2=2 π
φ
1+φ
2=0
Situation under, above-mentioned and λ m, m, Nr(V) formula relevant with λ can be reduced to:
Nr(V)dCos θ= (m′ λm)/2
Therefore, according to the present invention, in the case, the value of m ' is 1 ... in 20 the scope.
The monocrystal chip 12 that it is Ns that modulator 10 shown in the figure has a refractive index. The one or more layers material that is intended to reduce the backside reflection rate can be laid in " back side " of this substrate, so that modulator is low when its luminance factor is not coated with this material under operation wavelength, also can be metallized in some position of substrate simultaneously, contact in order to carry out resistance with modulator, for example as the metal layer 14 shown in the figure.
The single crystalline layer 16 that together consists of first group of oriented growth of inner reflector 18 just is located on this substrate. The composition of these thin layers, thickness and number namely consist of by every known facts of Film Optics and semiconductor technology choose, to obtain the variable of desirable reflectivity, electric conductivity, transparency, stability and crystal growth parameters.
The Partial Feature of inner reflector is its plural reflectivity amplitude ri, wherein:
r
i=r
1e×p(jφ
1)
R wherein1It is the size of reflectivity.
Be mounted with a resonant cavity layer that is in contact with it directly over the inner reflector 18, the thickness of this layer is d, and its refractive index to the light by this Es-region propagations is Nr(V), wherein V is the potential difference that is added in the modulator two ends. This refractive index should have a kind of of following two kinds of performances:
If Na<Nr(O), then Nb<Nr(O)
If perhaps Na>Nr(O), then Nb>Nr(O)
Wherein Nb is the refractive index that inner reflector 18 adjoins that skim of resonant cavity layer, Na be in the following a series of thin layers 22 that are about to speak of that directly adjoin resonant cavity layer 20 and contact with resonant cavity layer 20, in the refractive index of the thin layer of reflector 18 offsides.
Resonant cavity layer top is provided with above-mentioned thin layer 22 in groups, and each thin layer is the monocrystalline form of oriented growth. These thin layers consist of external reflectance device 24 together. The same with inner reflector 18, each thin layer 22 that consists of the external reflectance device is to choose by every known facts of Film Optics and semiconductor technology, to obtain desirable reflectivity, electric conductivity, transparency, stability and the crystal properties such as each parameter of growing.
The Partial Feature of external reflectance device 24 can be its plural reflectivity amplitude r0, wherein:
r
0=r
2e×p(jφ
2)
R wherein2Be the reflectivity amplitude.
Reflector 24 is away from that side of resonant cavity layer 20 outside, and reflector 24 and refractive index are that the incident medium of Ni contacts.
Any compound that substrate and each material layer thereafter can be made by the element of the periodic table of chemical element or alloy or be fit to the monocrystalline that the pure element of this purposes forms. For example, substrate and each thin layer thereafter can be made up of gallium, aluminium, arsenic, mix in specific proportions in specific thin layer.
Substrate and thereafter each thin layer also can be formed by gallium, indium, arsenic and phosphorus, in specific thin layer, mix with special ratios.
Substrate and thereafter each thin layer can also be formed by gallium, indium, aluminium, arsenic and antimony, in specific thin layer, mix with special ratios.
Substrate and thereafter each thin layer can also be formed by mercury, cadmium, manganese and tellurium, in specific thin layer, mix in specific proportions.
Substrate and each thin layer thereafter can also be made up of lead, sulphur, tellurium and selenium, mix with special ratios in specific thin layer.
To adopt other material system be possible and also be apparent to the art technology personage.
In addition, each described thin layer can form by generally being called the thinner layer of ordering structure or multi-quantum pit structure again, perhaps with described each thin layer series classification on forming.
Some part of inner reflector and/or substrate and/or resonant cavity layer is necessary to mix with foreign atom their is conducted electricity. This conduction (below be referred to as first kind of conduction) can be by means of electronics (N-shaped) or by means of hole (P type).
First metal layer (14) suitable and that first kind of conductiving doping material contacts as resistance is laid on the substrate 12 or on the modulator that is laid in or another place of close modulator, and it is contacted as resistance with this dopant.
Some position of external reflectance device 24 and/or resonant cavity layer 20 is mixed with foreign atom and makes its conduction. This conduction (below be referred to as second conduction) can be by means of electronics (N-shaped) or by means of hole (P type). If first kind of conduction is N-shaped, then the second conduction is for the P type, if first kind of conduction is the P type, then the second conduction is N-shaped.
Second kind of metal layer suitable and that second kind of conductiving doping material contacts as resistance is laid on the modulator or close modulator place makes it contact as resistance with this dopant material.As we can see from the figure, this metal layer be with the form of metallization frame 30 outside reverberator 24 go up away from the surperficial 24a of resonant cavity layer 20 and form.
For simplicity, we are generically and collectively referred to as " material structure " with substrate 12, inside and outside reverberator 18,24, resonant cavity layer 20 together with other overlayer of above-mentioned metal layer and thin layer 20 or reverberator 18,24 either sides.On material structure, can form one or more modulator 10 or modulator group 10 by etching or other partition method, like this with those of metal construction be respectively the part of first kind and second kind conduction contact and with metal layer that specific modulator or modulator group contact between when adding reverse biased, electric field mainly is added in along on the n type and the direct path between the P-type material of each particular modulator that so connects.Reverse biased is by the current potential that improves n section bar material its current potential that surpasses P-type material to be obtained as usually.
In this case, do not have electric current to flow through basically, but there is electric field at resonant cavity layer two ends.The refractive index of this thin layer can become by changing electric field (for example changing potential difference (PD)).
Illustrated modulator structure among the described here and figure, can partly or entirely add the material that comprises semiconductor (no matter being the semiconductor that is subjected to or is not resembled the high energy particle irradiation of proton and so on), polymkeric substance or insulating material around it, make it play passivation, reduce or increase surface recombination, play the light sealing function or improve environmental stability.
From planimetric map (from above), modulator can be got Any shape, comprises square, rectangle, circle or oval.Each sidewall (if any words) can be perpendicular to substrate, or tilt or be curved surface.
Talk about any specific wavelength λ above
iIncident beam be by changing the making alive V of institute when propagating by modulator, thereby change refractive index Nr(V) and modulate.This variation of refractive index make modulator maximum transmitted light wavelength position λ m by above-mentioned expression formula with respect to wavelength X
iAnd change, so just by modulators modulate the light that is transmitted.The phase place of catoptrical intensity and emission light beam and folded light beam is also all modulated.These phase modulation (PM) are that the optical thickness because of the resonant cavity layer changes and produces.
For reaching optimum performance, the structure of modulator must be the admittance coupling with incident medium.For example, if substrate, high index of refraction Ng and low-refraction thin layer are to be that Na and AlAs constitute by refractive index, and if this structure stops with a high refractive index layer at the interface at the incident medium away from substrate, and if the number of the low-index layer in the inner reflector is y, the number of low-index layer is x in the external reflection device, and if modulator is irradiated on the incident direction of normal, then the optical admittance Y of modulator structure is:
2(x-y)
Y=Ng(Ng/Na)
If incident medium be optical admittance extremely near the air of Y=1, then work as
During y=x+4,
In the bright wavelength coverage of whole full impregnated of modulator, all have extremely near good admittance coupling.
The front is talked about,
φ
1+φ
2=2π
Situation under, mentioned previously and Nr(V), d, θ, λ m, φ
1, φ
2Relevant equation can be reduced to:
Nr(V)d Cosθ= (m′ λm′)/2
M '=m+1 wherein,
We find that the value of m or m ' had better not be selected too much.The value of m is in 0 to 20 scope, or the value of m ' can achieve satisfactory results in 1 to 21 scope.For example, can choose m ' is 14.
Modulator described here suits to work under any wavelength in the transparent scope of structured material.If but the resonant cavity layer is selected multi-quantum pit structure for use, and the operation wavelength system chooses corresponding to the wavelength that excites the subarea below the basic energy gap of resonant cavity layer just in time (as people such as triumphant Mu La in U.S. Pat 4,525, in 687 disclosed like that), then the performance of modulator can be significantly improved when working under other wavelength.
The difference of the described modulators of people such as modulator of the present invention and triumphant Mu La is:
1. the work of modulator is not limited to the wavelength zone near band gap, although the work limitation fruit is best in this district.
2. the Fabry-Perot resonator of modulator of the present invention is whole integrated single material structure, and the described modulator of people such as triumphant Mu La then is made up of discrete component.
3. the inside and outside reverberator of modulator of the present invention and Multiple Quantum Well resonant cavity layer provide and electrically contact, and triumphantly admire the modulator that draws and then need separately contact.
4. people such as triumphant Mu La does not recognize that modulator and the incident medium coupling in admittance is so that optical transmission rate and modulation efficiency reach the importance of optimal cases.
By the modulator that the present invention makes, its remarkable advantage is that they can be made under situation about need not by cutting or etching formation minute surface.