Monolithic Optoelectronic Transmitters Using Bistable Sub-Wavelength Optical Components

Bistable infrared-reflecting organic semiconductors were shown in Phase I to provide novel solid state electro-reflective modulation. These organic semiconductors were also found to possess photon-induced electron transfer and electrical conductivityproperties for use in infrared (IR) photodetectors. Phase II will offer prototypes of an electro-reflective modulator and of an infrared-absorbing photodetector that both incorporate these stable organic semiconductors as the active materials. Theseelectro-optic prototypes will include ultra-small active areas of less than 1.5 micron dimensions, i.e., sub-wavelength in size. This is on the order of 500 times smaller than indium phosphide (InP)-based modulators and in turn more than 20,000 timessmaller than polymer-based and lithium niobate-based modulators. These optical modulators and photodetectors/receivers operate at picosecond speeds and are designed for integration into monolithic optical transceivers for optical interconnects for withinand between chips in computer systems, which will enable much faster and denser computing.