0000000000177933
AUTHOR
Markus Beck
Acousto-electric single-photon detector
We propose a novel concept for a semiconductor-based single-photon detector for quantum information processing, which is capable of discriminating the number of photons in a light pulse. The detector exploits the charge transport by a surface acoustic wave (SAW) in order to combine a large photon absorption area (thus providing high photon collection efficiency) with a microscopic charge detection area, where the photo generated charge is detected with resolution at the single electron level using single electron transistors (SETs). We present preliminary results on acoustic transport measured in a prototype for the detector as well as on the fabrication of radio-frequency single-electron t…
Compact Mach-Zehnder acousto-optic modulator
The authors demonstrate a compact optical waveguide modulator based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer driven by surface acoustic waves. The modulator was monolithically fabricated on GaAs with an active region length of approximately 15μm. It yields peak-to-peak modulation exceeding 90% of the average transmission and operation in the gigahertz frequency range.
Acousto-optical multiple interference devices
We present a new concept for waveguide acousto-optical devices based on coupled MachZehnder interferometers driven by acoustic waves. These acousto-optical multiple interference devices use the periodic refractive index modulation induced by the acoustic wave to realize functionalities such as ON/OFF switching for an arbitrary time interval, as well as for efficient light modulation at high harmonics of the acoustic frequency and pulse shaping for, e.g., integrated Q-switches. We also discuss application of the concepts to light modulation by very high acoustic frequencies, where the acoustic wavelengths become much shorter than the optical ones.
Acousto-optical multiple interference switches
The authors introduce an alternative approach for acousto-optical light control based on the interference of light propagating through several waveguides, each subjected to a periodic refractive index modulation induced by a surface acoustic wave. The feasibility of the concept is demonstrated by the realization of an optical switch for arbitrary time intervals with an on/off contrast ratio of 20.
Acoustic phonons for coherent photon control in semiconductor structures
We present a novel concept for acousto-optical modulation in waveguide (WG) structures using coherent phonons in the form of surface acoustic waves (SAWs). Here, a SAW impinging perpendicular to a waveguide structure induces a change in phase of the light propagating through it, which is translated into a transmission intensity modulation by using the WG as an arm of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI). We show that the modulation becomes strongly enhanced if the SAW induces phase changes of opposite sign in the MZI arms. Very compact modulators with an interaction length between the optical and acoustic waves of approx. 15 µm have been fabricated using focusing acoustic transducers to gene…