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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.08484 |
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| _version_ | 1866914461816717312 |
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| author | Johnson, Karl Hong, John Chang, Tallis Andrews, Sean C. Huang, Jean Ferguson, Leilani McCue, Liam Chan, Edward Wen, Bing Rubin, Noah A. Fainman, Yeshaiahu |
| author_facet | Johnson, Karl Hong, John Chang, Tallis Andrews, Sean C. Huang, Jean Ferguson, Leilani McCue, Liam Chan, Edward Wen, Bing Rubin, Noah A. Fainman, Yeshaiahu |
| contents | Efficient, low-loss, and versatile optical modulators are a critical ingredient for practical integrated photonic systems. Modulators based on micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) have unique advantages over more traditional thermal, electro-optic, or plasma dispersion modulators. In this work, we show that evanescent MEMS modulators (in which a dielectric slab is mechanically inserted into a waveguide's evanescent field) can exhibit anomalously dispersive modulation. That is, despite positive modulation of a waveguide mode's effective index, the modulator brings about a negative change in group index. We experimentally demonstrate these unique capabilities using a novel MEMS actuator design. The new theory and results here reveal that evanescent MEMS modulators possess a capability for control of wavelength dispersion not accessible to nearly any other type of modulator. These new capabilities may enable on-chip integration of systems for various optical applications, including broadband switching, photonic true time delay, pulse shaping, or phase matching of nonlinear processes. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_08484 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Dispersion Control in Micromechanical Evanescent Optical Modulators Johnson, Karl Hong, John Chang, Tallis Andrews, Sean C. Huang, Jean Ferguson, Leilani McCue, Liam Chan, Edward Wen, Bing Rubin, Noah A. Fainman, Yeshaiahu Optics Efficient, low-loss, and versatile optical modulators are a critical ingredient for practical integrated photonic systems. Modulators based on micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) have unique advantages over more traditional thermal, electro-optic, or plasma dispersion modulators. In this work, we show that evanescent MEMS modulators (in which a dielectric slab is mechanically inserted into a waveguide's evanescent field) can exhibit anomalously dispersive modulation. That is, despite positive modulation of a waveguide mode's effective index, the modulator brings about a negative change in group index. We experimentally demonstrate these unique capabilities using a novel MEMS actuator design. The new theory and results here reveal that evanescent MEMS modulators possess a capability for control of wavelength dispersion not accessible to nearly any other type of modulator. These new capabilities may enable on-chip integration of systems for various optical applications, including broadband switching, photonic true time delay, pulse shaping, or phase matching of nonlinear processes. |
| title | Dispersion Control in Micromechanical Evanescent Optical Modulators |
| topic | Optics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.08484 |