30 GHz Zeno-based Graphene Electro-optic Modulator

TL;DR

This paper presents a 30 GHz graphene electro-optic modulator based on the classical Zeno effect, achieving unprecedented speed and efficiency, enabling high-speed digital communications and broadband applications.

Contribution

It introduces the first high-speed graphene modulator utilizing the Zeno effect, significantly surpassing previous bandwidth limitations and demonstrating large-signal operation.

Findings

Operates at 30 GHz bandwidth, over ten times faster than prior devices.

Achieves a modulation efficiency of 1.5 dB/V.

Demonstrates high-speed large-signal modulation in graphene.

Abstract

Graphene has generated exceptional interest as an optoelectronic material because its high carrier mobility and broadband absorption promise to make extremely fast and broadband electro-optic devices possible. Electro-optic graphene modulators reported to date, however, have been limited in bandwidth to a few GHz because of the large capacitance required to achieve reasonable voltage swings. Here we demonstrate a graphene electro-optic modulator based on the classical Zeno effect that shows drastically increased speed and efficiency. Our device operates with a 30 GHz bandwidth, over an order of magnitude faster than prior work, and a state-of-the-art modulation efficiency of 1.5 dB/V. We also show the first high-speed large-signal operation in a graphene modulator, paving the way for fast digital communications using this platform. The modulator uniquely uses silicon nitride waveguides, an otherwise completely passive material platform, with promising applications for ultra-low-loss broadband structures and nonlinear optics.