Tunable ultracompact electro-optical photonic crystal ring resonator

A tunable ultracompact electro-optical photonic crystal ring resonator with high transmission is reported. The photonic crystal ring resonator is obtained by removing a ring shape of cylinders from a square lattice of dielectric cylinders in air. The transmission spectra of this ring resonator have been investigated by using the finite-difference time-domain technique. The general characteristics of the ring elements to achieve resonant tunneling are determined. By modulating the conductibility of the inner cylinders in the ring resonator, the electrical tunability of the resonant modes is observed in the transmission spectrum. The research results should open opportunities for this ring resonator as ultracompact filters, optical add-drop multiplexers, electro-optical N × N switches, and modulators.