Abstract
AlGaN has been in the spotlight lately for its use in blue to UV lasers and LEDs, tolerances to high temperature/harsh environment, high power applications, etc. Little has been examined in the area of electro-optic (EO) modulation and waveguiding. This paper compiles the optical and EO properties of AlGaN. It also models the behavior of AlGaN integrated optic waveguides and switches based on the zero-gap EO directional coupler. Among the advantages of AlGaN integrated optic waveguides and switches is the potential to work at wavelengths from IR to the blue region. Additionally, GaN has a close refractive index match to glass and polymer optical fibers and waveguides. Preliminary findings suggest that the size of AlGaN EO directional couplers, based on measured nonlinear properties of the material and, assuming a viable PIN structure, could be in the range of = 7000 microns, operating at TIL voltages, with potentially high modulation switching speeds. (Author)