Patent ID: 11831128

Abstract:
Embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatus for generating electromagnetic radiation in an electro-optical apparatus. An electro-optical apparatus comprises a core region; a cladding region extending around the core region, and a first layer of a material extending along an interface between the core region and the cladding region, wherein the first layer is configured with a changing refractive index along at least a first direction; and a set of driving electrical contacts configured to apply a voltage in a second direction on the first layer, such that electrons in the first layer are accelerated between the set of driving electrical contacts to generate a surface polariton wave at the interface between the core region and the cladding region, wherein the surface polariton wave propagates in the first direction, and wherein a thickness of the first layer is less than an extinction length of the surface polariton wave in the material, and the first layer is positioned a distance less than or equal to the extinction length of the surface polariton from the interface between the core region and the cladding region.