Information processing requires interconnects to carry information from one place to another. Optical interconnects between electronics systems have attracted significant attention and development for a number of years because optical links have demonstrated potential advantages for high-speed, low-power, and interference immunity. With increasing system speed and greater bandwidth requirements, the distance over which optical communication is useful has continually decreased to chip-to-chip and on-chip levels. Monolithic integration of photonics and electronics will significantly reduce the cost of optical components and further combine the functionalities of chips on the same or different boards or systems. Modulators are one of the fundamental building blocks for optical interconnects. Previous work demonstrated modulators based upon the quantum confined Stark effect (QCSE) in SiGe p-i-n devices with strained Ge/SiGe multi-quantum-well (MQW) structures in the i region. While the previous work demonstrated the effect, it did not examine the high-speed aspects of the device, which is the focus of this dissertation. High-speed modulation and low driving voltage are the keys for the device's practical use. At lower optical intensity operation, the ultimate limitation in speed will be the RC time constant of the device itself. At high optical intensity, the large number of photo generated carriers in the MQW region will limit the performance of the device through photo carrier related voltage drop and exciton saturation. In previous work, the devices consist of MQWs configured as p-i-n diodes. The electric field induced absorption change by QCSE modulates the optical transmission of the device. The focus of this thesis is the optimization of MQW material deposition, minimization of the parasitic capacitance of the probe pads for high speed, low voltage and high contrast ratio operation. The design, fabrication and high-speed characterization of devices of different sizes, with different bias voltages are presented. The device fabrication is based on processes for standard silicon electronics and is suitable for mass-production. This research will enable efficient transceivers to be monolithically integrated with silicon chips for high-speed optical interconnects. We demonstrated a modulator, with an eye diagram of 3.125GHz, a small driving voltage of 2.5V and an f3dB bandwidth greater than 30GHz. Carrier dynamics under ultra-fast laser excitation and high-speed photocurrent response are also investigated.

Optoelectronic devices and fibre optics are the basis of cutting-edge communication systems. This monograph deals with the various components of these systems, including lasers, amplifiers, modulators, converters, filters, sensors, and more.

Proceedings of SPIE present the original research papers presented at SPIE conferences and other high-quality conferences in the broad-ranging fields of optics and photonics. These books provide prompt access to the latest innovations in research and technology in their respective fields. Proceedings of SPIE are among the most cited references in patent literature.

This book is volume II of a series of books on silicon photonics. It gives a fascinating picture of the state-of-the-art in silicon photonics from a component perspective. It presents a perspective on what can be expected in the near future. It is formed from a selected number of reviews authored by world leaders in the field, and is written from both academic and industrial viewpoints. An in-depth discussion of the route towards fully integrated silicon photonics is presented. This book will be useful not only to physicists, chemists, materials scientists, and engineers but also to graduate students who are interested in the fields of micro- and nanophotonics and optoelectronics.

An accessible yet rigorous introduction to nanophotonics, covering basic principles, technology, and applications in lighting, lasers, and photovoltaics. Providing a wealth of information on materials and devices, and over 150 color figures, it is the 'go-to' guide for students in electrical engineering taking courses in nanophotonics.