Claims
- 1. An optical phase shifter comprising:
- a ground plane having a predetermined conductivity;
- a two dimensional quantum well structure, the quantum well structure having at least two lateral sides and formed such that at a zero bias the quantum well structure has substantially the same conductivity as the ground plane and that at a predetermined bias the conductivity of the quantum well structure is decreased;
- a dielectric slab sandwiched between the ground plane and the quantum well structure; and
- at least two electrical contacts disposed along the lateral sides of the quantum well structure such that when a bias is applied the conductivity of the quantum well structure decreases.
- 2. The optical phase shifter of claim 1 wherein the conductivity of the quantum well structure is reduced to the conductivity of air upon application of the bias.
- 3. The optical phase shifter of claim 1 wherein the two dimensional quantum well structure is a thin layer of cobalt-disilicide.
- 4. The optical phase shifter of claim 1 further comprising:
- the quantum well structure being a thin layer of cobalt-disilicide; and
- said thin layer of cobalt-disilicide having a width and a length selected based upon the wavelength of a carrier signal propagating through the phase shifter.
- 5. The optical phase shifter of claim 1 further comprising the quantum well structure being a thin layer of cobalt-disilicide that is 30 .ANG. thick.
GOVERNMENT INTEREST
The invention described herein maybe made, used, sold, or licensed by, or on behalf of, the United States of America without the payment to us of any royalties thereon.
US Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
4806998 |
Vinter et al. |
Feb 1989 |
|
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry |
Ramo et al, "Fields and Waves in Communication Electronics", Wiley and So New York, 1984; pp. 375-376. |
Koul et al, "Microwave and Millimeter Wave Phase Shifters", Artech House, Norwood, Massachusetts, vol. 1, 1991, pp. 73-89. |