Traveling-wave photodetector
The traveling-wave photodetector of the present invention combines an absorptive optical waveguide and an electrical transmission line, in which optical absorption in the waveguide results in a photocurrent at the electrodes of the electrical transmission line. The optical waveguide and electrical transmission line of the electrically distributed traveling-wave photodetector are designed to achieve matched velocities between the light in the optical waveguide and electrical signal generated on the transmission line. This velocity synchronization provides the traveling-wave photodetector with a large electrical bandwidth and a high quantum efficiency, because of the effective extended volume for optical absorption. The traveling-wave photodetector also provides large power dissipation, because of its large physical size. 4 figures.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 5270532; A
- OSTI ID:
- 5443001
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 15 Jun 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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