The present invention relates to an optical device including a ring resonator, and more particularly, to an optical device including a ring resonator with a van der Waals heterostructure and a method for operating the same.
In general, various optical devices using photonics technology are manufactured based on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. Such optical devices include a light source, photodetector, optical modulator, photodiode, polarization rotator, polarization splitter, wavelength division multiplexer, wavelength division demultiplexer, optical power splitter, etc.
Meanwhile, graphene is a material of a two-dimensional planar structure in which carbon atoms are connected in a honeycomb-shaped hexagonal form through an sp2 bond. Graphene has high electron mobility, high light transmittance, and excellent thermal conductivity, and thus may be used for various purposes in the industrial fields of semiconductors, energy, displays, etc. In particular, researches are actively carried out to apply graphene to various optical devices using photonics technology.
One technical problem of the present invention is to provide an optical device including a ring resonator with a van der Waals heterostructure.
One technical problem of the present invention is to provide an operation method for using the above optical device as a light source, a photodetector, or an optical modulator.
The problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and other problems not mentioned would be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art from the disclosure below.
In order to resolve the above technical problems, an optical device according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a substrate, an optical waveguide extending in a first direction on the substrate, and a ring resonator adjacent to the optical waveguide in a second direction intersecting the first direction on the substrate, wherein the ring resonator may include a first graphene layer and a second graphene layer on the substrate, a first insulating layer between the substrate and the first graphene layer, a second insulating layer between the first graphene layer and the second graphene layer, a first electrode and a second electrode connected to the first graphene layer, and a third electrode connected to the second graphene layer, wherein the first graphene layer, the second graphene layer, the first insulating layer, and the second insulating layer may have a ring shape or a partially open ring shape.
The first insulating layer and the second insulating layer may include a hexagonal boron nitride, and junctions of the first and second graphene layers and the first and second insulating layers may be a van der Waals heterostructure.
A thickness of the first insulating layer may be larger than a thickness of the second insulating layer.
The first graphene layer may have a partially open ring shape, the first electrode may be connected to one end of the first graphene layer, the second electrode may be connected to the other end of the first graphene layer, and the first electrode and the second electrode may be spaced apart from each other.
The second graphene layer may have a partially open ring shape, and the third electrode may be connected to both of one end and the other end of the second graphene layer.
The first graphene layer and the second graphene layer may be spaced apart from each other with the second insulating layer therebetween.
The resonator may be provided in plurality, and the resonators may be arranged side by side in the first direction at one side of the optical waveguide.
The resonator may be provided in plurality, and the resonators may be arranged in a zigzag pattern at both sides of the optical waveguide.
Diameters of upper surfaces of the first and second graphene layers and the first and second insulating layers may be the same, and sidewalls of the first and second graphene layers and the first and second insulating layers may be aligned with each other.
The optical device may be used as a light source, a photodetector, or an optical modulator by controlling a magnitude, period, and timing of voltage applied to the first to third electrodes of the ring resonator.
Furthermore, a method for operating an optical device according to an embodiment of the present invention may include applying a first voltage to a first electrode. Here, the optical device may include a substrate, an optical waveguide extending in one direction on the substrate, and a ring resonator including a first insulating layer, a first graphene layer, a second insulating layer, and a second graphene layer that are sequentially stacked on the substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode connected to the first graphene layer, and a third electrode connected to the second graphene layer, wherein the first graphene layer, the second graphene layer, the first insulating layer, and the second insulating layer may have a ring shape or a partially open ring shape, the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer may include a hexagonal boron nitride, and junctions of the first and second graphene layers and the first and second insulating layers may be a van der Waals heterostructure.
The method may further include grounding the second electrode and emitting light from the ring resonator, wherein the first voltage may be a direct current voltage, an alternating current voltage, or a pulse voltage.
The method may further include grounding the second electrode and applying a second voltage to the third electrode, wherein the first voltage and the second voltage may be a pulse voltage, and a pulse duration of the first voltage and a pulse duration of the second voltage may differ from each other.
The pulse duration of the first voltage may be longer than the pulse duration of the second voltage.
A difference between the pulse duration of the first voltage and the pulse duration of the second voltage may be 10 fs to 10 ns.
The method may further include radiating light to the ring resonator, applying a second voltage to the third electrode, connecting an amperemeter to the second electrode, and measuring a flow of electrons transferred from the second graphene layer to the first graphene layer through the second insulating layer by using the amperemeter.
Furthermore, a method for operating an optical device according to an embodiment of the present invention may include inputting input light to an optical waveguide, controlling a voltage applied to a third electrode, and outputting output light from the optical waveguide. Here, the optical device may include a substrate, an optical waveguide extending in one direction on the substrate, and a ring resonator including a first insulating layer, a first graphene layer, a second insulating layer, and a second graphene layer that are sequentially stacked on the substrate, a first electrode and a second electrode connected to the first graphene layer, and a third electrode connected to the second graphene layer, wherein the first graphene layer, the second graphene layer, the first insulating layer, and the second insulating layer may have a ring shape or a partially open ring shape, the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer may include a hexagonal boron nitride, and junctions of the first and second graphene layers and the first and second insulating layers may be a van der Waals heterostructure.
The controlling of the voltage applied to the third electrode may be periodically applying a voltage to the third electrode.
The voltage applied to the third electrode may be about 0.1 V to 30 V.
A Fermi level of the first graphene layer when the voltage is not applied to the third electrode may be higher than the Fermi level of the first graphene layer when the voltage is applied to the third electrode.
The optical device according to an embodiment of the present invention may be used as a light source, a photodetector, or an optical modulator through a ring resonator with a van der Waals heterostructure.
Furthermore, the optical device according to an embodiment of the present invention may be integrated with a silicon electronic chip to implement silicon photonics, and thus enables high-density integration and may be compatible with CMOS chips and the like.
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that the configuration and effects of the present invention are sufficiently understood.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, but may be implemented in various forms and may allow various changes and modifications. Rather, the embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention to those of ordinary skill in the art. In the accompanying drawings, the scale ratios among elements may be exaggerated or reduced for convenience.
The terminology used herein is not for limiting the present invention but for describing particular embodiments. Furthermore, the terms used herein may be interpreted as the meanings known in the art unless the terms are defined differently.
The terms of a singular form may include plural forms unless otherwise specified. It will be further understood that the terms “includes”, “including”, “comprises”, and/or “comprising”, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated elements, steps, operations, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other elements, steps, operations, components, and/or groups thereof.
The terms “first”, “second”, and the like are used herein to describe various regions, directions, shapes, etc., but these regions, directions, and shapes should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one region, direction, or shape from another region, direction, or shape. Therefore, a part referred to as a first part in an embodiment may be referred to as a second part in another embodiment. The embodiments described herein also include complementary embodiments thereof. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
Hereinafter, an optical device and a method for operating the same according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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The optical waveguide WG extending in the first direction D1 may be provided on the substrate 100. The optical waveguide WG, for example, may have a line shape protruding in the third direction D3 from the substrate 100, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The optical waveguide WG may include, for example, silicon, silicon nitride, or boron nitride.
The ring resonator RR that is adjacent to the optical waveguide WG in the second direction D2 may be provided on the substrate 100. The ring resonator RR may include a first insulating layer 110, a first graphene layer 120, a second insulating layer 130, and a second graphene layer 140 that are sequentially stacked on the substrate 100. The first insulating layer 110 and the second insulating layer 130 each may have, for example, a ring shape. The first graphene layer 120 and the second graphene layer 140 each may have, for example, a partially opened ring shape, i.e., C shape.
Diameters of upper surfaces of the first insulating layer 110, the first graphene layer 120, the second insulating layer 130, and the second graphene layer 140 may be substantially the same. In other words, sidewalls of the first insulating layer 110, the first graphene layer 120, the second insulating layer 130, and the second graphene layer 140 may be aligned with each other, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
The first insulating layer 110 may be provided between the upper surface of the substrate 100 and the first graphene layer 120. The first graphene layer 120 may be provided between the first insulating layer 110 and the second insulating layer 130. The second insulating layer 130 may be provided between the first graphene layer 120 and the second graphene layer 140. In particular, the first graphene layer 120 and the second graphene layer 140 may be spaced apart from each other in the third direction D3 with the second insulating layer 130 therebetween.
A thickness T1 of the first insulating layer 110 in the third direction D3 may be larger than a thickness T2 of the second insulating layer 130 in the third direction D3. Hereinafter, a thickness may refer to a thickness in the third direction D3. The thickness of each of the first graphene layer 120 and the second graphene layer 140 may be less than the thickness T2 of the second insulating layer 130.
The first insulating layer 110 and the second insulating layer 130 may include, for example, hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). The hBN is a two-dimensional material that is isostructural with graphene, and is stable at high temperature and has an excellent encapsulation effect. Each of junctions of the first and second graphene layers 120 and 140 and the first and second insulating layers 110 and 130 may be a van der Waals heterostructure that exhibits strong light-matter interaction at an interface thereof.
A first electrode 210 and second electrode 220 connected to the first graphene layer 120 may be provided. The first electrode 210 may be connected to one end of the first graphene layer 120 having a C shape, and the second electrode 220 may be connected to the other end of the first graphene layer 120. The first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220 may be provided at substantially the same level as the first graphene layer 120. The first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220 may be spaced apart from each other in a tangential direction of a ring. The first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220 may extend in a radial direction of a ring, and a portion of each of the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220 may protrude from an inner wall of the first graphene layer 120. The first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220 may be referred to as a source electrode and a drain electrode.
A third electrode 230 connected to the second graphene layer 140 may be provided. The third electrode 230 may be connected to both of one end and the other end of the second graphene layer 140 having a C shape. That is, the third electrode 230 may connect the one end and the other end of the second graphene layer 140. The third electrode 230 may be provided at substantially the same level as the second graphene layer 140 and at a higher level than the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220. The third electrode 230 may extend in a radial direction, and a portion of the third electrode 230 may be protrude from an inner wall of the second graphene layer 140. The third electrode 230 may be referred to as a gate electrode.
The optical device according to the present invention may be used as a light source, a photodetector, or an optical modulator by controlling a magnitude, period, or timing of voltage applied to the first to third electrodes 210 to 230.
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In more detail, when the direct current voltage DC is applied to the first graphene layer 120 through the first electrode 210, light having certain intensity may be emitted through thermal radiation due to Joule heating. Furthermore, when the alternating current voltage AC or pulse voltage is applied to the first graphene layer 120 through the first electrode 210, light having a frequency of at least about 10 GHz may be emitted from an unequal state of thermal electrons and phonons. The frequency of emitted light may be controlled according to an applied voltage.
In more detail, light may be emitted through thermal electrons when the first voltage VA is applied to the first graphene layer 120 through the first electrode 210, and light may not be emitted since thermal electrons tunnel into the second graphene layer 140 and the third electrode 230 through the second insulating layer 130 when the second voltage VB is applied to the second graphene layer 140 through the third electrode 230. As a result, light having a higher frequency than that when an alternating current voltage or pulse voltage is applied to the first graphene layer 120 may be emitted, and the optical device according to the present invention may have a faster modulation rate than that of a light source including only a single graphene layer.
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Although embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, those of ordinary skill in the art could easily understood that the present invention can be carried out in other specific forms without changing the technical concept or essential features. Therefore, the above embodiments should be considered illustrative and should not be construed as limiting.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10-2021-0078971 | Jun 2021 | KR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/KR2021/014587 | 10/19/2021 | WO |