Patent ID: 8270778

Claim:
An optical modulator configured to operate in a single-photon absorption mode, comprising: a substrate configured to absorb photons and to create charge carriers, said substrate configured to accept application of a voltage in a desired direction, said voltage when applied configured to move the charge carriers along said desired direction; a waveguide structure having a gate waveguide and at least one signal waveguide having an input port and an output port, said waveguide structure disposed adjacent said substrate in an orientation selected with respect to said direction of voltage, at least one of said substrate and said waveguide structure configured to operate in a single-photon absorption mode; said gate waveguide of said waveguide structure configured to receive a gate signal; said input port of said at least one signal waveguide configured to receive an input optical signal to be controlled in response to said gate signal; and said output port of said at least one signal waveguide configured to provide an output signal representative of said controlled input signal.