Experimental demonstration of a reconfigurable silicon thermo-optical device based on spectral tuning of ring resonators for optical signal processing

Abstract

We have experimentally demonstrated a reconfigurable silicon thermo-optical device able to tailor its intrinsic spectral optical response by means of the thermo-optical control of individual and uncoupled resonant modes of micro-ring resonators. Preliminarily results show that the device's optical response can be tailored to build up distinct and reconfigurable logic levels for optical signal processing, as well as control of overall figures of merit, such as free-spectral-range, extinction ratio and 3 dB bandwidth. In addition, the micro-heaters on top of the ring resonators are able to tune the resonant wavelength with efficiency of 0.25 nm/mW within a range of up to 10 nm, as well as able to switch the resonant wavelength within fall and rise time of 15 μs.