ABSTRACT
This chapter demonstrates that an interdisciplinary approach to design and develop new nanophotonic hybrid modulators/switches for nanoscale future communication technologies, where plasmonics technology is integrated with silicon (Si) waveguides to confine light below diffraction limit. Optical modulation is at the heart of Si photonics for on-chip optical communications. Photonic switches are devices used in optical communication and computing network that can establish or release the connection of optical signals. The modulator is optimized to operate in a broad working wavelength range of 700 nm around the telecommunication window. Si photonics is an emerging technology based on Si chips, where photons are used to carry information in a complementary metal oxide semiconductor chip. Photons can carry far more data in less time than electrons, because photons can be pulsed at higher frequencies than electric currents, resulting in a high bandwidth.
