Low-Voltage, Coupled Multiple Quantum Well Electroreflective Modulators Towards Ultralow Power Inter-Chip Optical Interconnects

An electroreflective modulator based on multiple-pass electroabsorption (EA) of coupled multiple quantum wells (CMQWs) is demonstrated for integration with low-loss polymer optical waveguides towards inter-chip and on-board optical interconnects at 850 nm. Taking advantage of coupling between quantum states in MQWs, the top polymer cladding and the bottom Au mirror form a Fabry-Pérot cavity to further enhance the EA of CMQWs, thereby greatly improving the extinction ratio (ER) at a low voltage. The device achieves an ER of ∼6 dB and an insertion loss (IL)