Electro-Optic Polymer Based Ultra-Linear Directional Coupler

EO polymer modulators have been demonstrated to operate with very low switching voltages (~0.4 V) due to the high activity of EO polymers. EO polymers also utilize spin-on fabrication processes and semiconductor like processes that allow precise device fabrication at high volumes. However, the optical loss in the state-of-the-art EO polymer material is somewhat high (3-4 dB/cm). Lumera is motivated and confident that if selected, we will develop and/or collaborate with University of Washington (UW) scientists to modify the current materials systems to demonstrate and validate EO polymer materials with high EO activity and relatively low optical loss, and develop ultra- linear, multi-sectioned directional couplers incorporating state-of-the-art, stable, high EO coefficient polymers with low optical loss.