Active modulation of the refractive index in photonic integrated circuits via charge injection
A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) includes an organic solid crystal (OSC) material layer, the OSC material layer having a substrate portion and a raised optical element integral with and extending from the substrate portion. The raised optical element may include a passive or active component of the photonic integrated circuit.
1 . A photonic integrated circuit comprising:
an organic solid crystal (OSC) material layer, the OSC material layer comprising a substrate portion and a raised optical element integral with and extending from the substrate portion, wherein the raised optical element is configured to have a pattern reciprocally defined by a patterned electric field applied to an electrically conductive liquid layer adjacent to the OSC material layer.
2 . The photonic integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the OSC material layer comprises a hydrocarbon compound selected from the group consisting of naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene, pyrene, corannulene, fluorene, and biphenyl.
3 . The photonic integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the OSC material layer comprises a hydrocarbon compound selected from the group consisting of furan, pyrrole, thiophene, pyridine, pyrimidine, piperidine, triazenes, thiazole, oxazoles, and oxathioles.
4 . The photonic integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the OSC material layer comprises a dopant selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, selenium, tellurium, phosphorus, silver, copper, potassium, sodium, and ambipolar organic semiconductors.
5 . The photonic integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the OSC material layer comprises at least one of:
a uniaxially-oriented index of refraction; or
a biaxially-oriented index of refraction.
6 . The photonic integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the OSC material layer comprises a refractive index of at least approximately 1.6 and a birefringence of at least approximately 0.1.
7 . The photonic integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the OSC material layer comprises a single crystal.
8 . The photonic integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the raised optical element is configured to transmit electromagnetic radiation.
9 . The photonic integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the raised optical element comprises a passive component selected from the group consisting of a waveguide, a crossing structure, a taper, a directional coupler, a beam splitter, and a grating.
10 . The photonic integrated circuit of claim 1 , wherein the raised optical element comprises an active component selected from the group consisting of an optical modulator, an optical switch or gate, and a phase shifter.
11 . The photonic integrated circuit of claim 1 , further comprising an electrode disposed over at least a portion of the raised optical element.
12 . A head-mounted display comprising the photonic integrated circuit of claim 1 .
13 . A device comprising:
an organic solid crystal (OSC) substrate; and
an optical element disposed over the substrate, wherein the optical element comprises an organic solid crystal layer and is configured to have a pattern reciprocally defined by a patterned electric field applied to an electrically conductive liquid layer adjacent to the OSC substrate.
14 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the optical element is integral with the OSC substrate.
15 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the optical element comprises a refractive index of at least approximately 1.6 and a birefringence of at least approximately 0.01.
16 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the optical element comprises a single crystal.
17 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the optical element is configured to transmit electromagnetic radiation.
18 . The device of claim 13 , further comprising an electrode disposed over at least a portion of the optical element.