Lightwave Logic, Inc. (NASDAQ: LWLG), which is developing electro-optic (EO) polymers for optical communications applications (see, for example, "Lightwave Logic touts new thermal design for polymer-based modulators"), used this week’s ECOC 2021 in Bordeaux, France, to tout a high-speed modulator demonstration with ETH Zurich. As described in a post-deadline paper at the event today, ETH Zurich leveraged Lightwave Logic’s Perkinamine chromophores in a silicon-photonics-based plasmonic racetrack modulator developed by Polariton Technologies Ltd. (a spinoff of ETH Zurich). The racetrack modulator demonstrated energy-efficient, low-loss, and high-speed modulation in a compact footprint, according to the paper.
The collaborators report that Polariton's plasmonic modulator transmitted 220-Gbps OOK and 408-Gbps 8PAM signals over 100 m. The modulator used a low-voltage electrical drive of 0.6 Vp and demonstrated on-chip loss of 1 dB as well as an optical 3-dB bandwidth of beyond 110 GHz. The results represent a record for polymer-based modulators, the papers authors assert.
"Our mission at Lightwave Logic is to continually push the frontiers of high-speed performance for electro-optic polymers, shaping the 'impossible' into reality and a new normal for the industry," commented Dr. Michael Lebby, CEO of Lightwave Logic. "Through our collaboration with Polariton, we have achieved a new world-record for a racetrack plasmonic modulator device structure. The acceptance of a post-deadline peer-reviewed paper at ECOC 2021 provides third-party validation of this incredible result.
"We now turn our attention to further optimizing this performance with silicon foundries through both materials and optical device design. With performance achievements such as this, we believe that many companies will quickly see the potential impact that high-performance optical switching devices using our polymers can have on their business," concluded Lebby.
"Polariton has always been dedicated to providing best-in-class devices with the highest-performance. Our goal is to make optical communications faster, the technology more scalable and with it, components and infrastructure more energy-efficient,” added Dr. Wolfgang Heni, co-CTO at Polariton. “Our recent demonstration of a plasmonic racetrack modulator once again showcased how the unique combination of plasmonics, silicon photonics, and organic electro-optics offers high-speed and energy-efficient components. We are pleased to have worked with Lightwave Logic, providing us with high-performance and reliable Perkinamine chromophores to demonstrate this new world record, further highlighting the benefits of our plasmonic modulator technology. Together, we hope to revolutionize the future of the internet through adoption of next-generation electro-optic polymer platforms."
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