Fast silicon-on-silicon optoelectronic router based on a BMFET device

In this paper, a new configuration for an optoelectronic router is presented. The device is composed by a single-mode input waveguide, a two-mode active section where the light steering by means of mode mixing between the fundamental and the first higher order mode is achieved. A terminal Y-branch is placed to separate the output channels. Active modulation is achieved by means of a three-terminal electronic device, which injects and controls the free carrier plasma inside the active region. The usage of a three-terminal device allows extremely fast dynamic response. Switching times of few nanoseconds are obtained together with an average crosstalk of -11 dB.