Computational analysis of novel high performance optically controlled RF switches for reconfigurable millimeterwave-to-THz circuits
- 6 October 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Optica Publishing Group in OSA Continuum
- Vol. 4 (10), 2642-2654
- https://doi.org/10.1364/osac.437912
Abstract
Optically controlled RF switches with a novel non-contact device architecture that achieves high performance in the millimeterwave-to-terahertz (mmW-THz) region are proposed and investigated through simulation. The significant change in conductivity in semiconductors caused by photogenerated carriers is used to develop RF switches having very high performance. By including a thin layer of insulator between the active semiconductor material and the metal contacts, the carrier concentration can be enhanced over that of conventional devices. For a prototype demonstration, G-band coplanar waveguide-based optical switches (using Si and Ge as active materials) with different contact geometries have been modeled and simulated. The proposed switches outperform both conventional solid-state switches and phase-change material-based switches in the switch figure-of-merit, and are promising for developing a novel class of tunable and reconfigurable mmW-THz circuits for advanced sensing, imaging, and communication.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Science Foundation (ECCS-1711052, ECCS-1711631)
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