Demonstration of a directed optical decoder using two cascaded microring resonators

Abstract

We propose and demonstrate a directed optical decoder that can perform the decoding function from a two-bit electrical signal to a four-bit optical signal based on two cascaded microring resonators. We use two electrical signals regarded as a two-bit electrical signal to modulate the two microring resonators through the thermo-optic effect and four optical signals regarded as a four-bit optical signal appear at the output ports, respectively. The device operating at 10 kbps is demonstrated.