An ultralow- $\text{V}_{\pi }\text{L}$ photonic switch device is demonstrated utilizing the high optical and electrical field confinement in silicon slot waveguides coupled with the strong electro-optic response of nematic liquid crystals. A silicon photonic directional coupler switch with a modulation efficiency of 0.0195 $\text{V}\cdot $ mm and a loss-efficiency product of 0.0624 $\text{V}\cdot $ dB is achieved. The 1.5 mm long device is based on two-mode interference within a single slot waveguide resulting in a $\text{V}_{\mathrm {\pi }}$ of 0.013 V and an extinction ratio of $\sim ~9$ dB at 1550 nm wavelength. The power consumption of the photonic switch is estimated to be below 0.6 nW and it possesses a response time of < 1.5 ms. A comparative performance study between the directional coupler switch and a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) switch is performed. The directional coupler switch is projected to have a smaller footprint and lower optical loss compared to a similar design MZI switch making it a strong candidate for switch matrix designs and applications.

中文翻译：

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具有液晶包层的超低 V蟺L 硅电光定向耦合器开关


利用硅槽波导中的高光学和电场限制以及向列液晶的强电光响应，演示了一种超低$\text{V}_{\pi }\text{L}$光子开关器件。实现了调制效率为0.0195 $\text{V}\cdot $ mm、损耗效率积为0.0624 $\text{V}\cdot $ dB的硅光子定向耦合器开关。 1.5 毫米长的器件基于单槽波导内的双模干涉，导致 $\text{V}_{\mathrm {\pi }}$ 为 0.013 V，消光比为 $\sim ~9$ 1550 nm 波长处的 dB。光子开关的功耗预计低于 0.6 nW，响应时间为 < 1.5 ms。对定向耦合器开关和马赫曾德干涉仪 (MZI) 开关进行了性能比较研究。与类似设计的 MZI 开关相比，定向耦合器开关预计具有更小的占地面积和更低的光损耗，使其成为开关矩阵设计和应用的有力候选者。