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Efficient GHz electro-optical modulation with a nonlocal lithium niobate metasurface in the linear and nonlinear regime

Author

Listed:
  • Agostino Di Francescantonio

    (Physics Department)

  • Alessandra Sabatti

    (Optical Nanomaterial Group)

  • Helena Weigand

    (Optical Nanomaterial Group)

  • Elise Bailly-Rioufreyt

    (Optical Nanomaterial Group)

  • Maria Antonietta Vincenti

    (Department of Information Engineering)

  • Luca Carletti

    (Department of Information Engineering)

  • Jost Kellner

    (Optical Nanomaterial Group)

  • Attilio Zilli

    (Physics Department)

  • Marco Finazzi

    (Physics Department)

  • Michele Celebrano

    (Physics Department)

  • Rachel Grange

    (Optical Nanomaterial Group)

Abstract

Electro-optical modulation is essential in optical signal processing and laser technology, yet modulators based on the Pockels effect in flat optics lag behind bulk and integrated platforms in efficiency and speed. We bridge this gap realizing a metasurface based on lithium niobate (LiNbO₃) on insulator that leverages on resonances with quality-factor as high as 8000 to achieve fast electrical modulation of both linear and nonlinear optical properties. LiNbO3, well known for its high nonlinear susceptibility and wide transparency window across the infrared and visible spectrum, is employed to realize an asymmetric, one-dimensional array of nanowires, exhibiting resonances with linewidth

Suggested Citation

  • Agostino Di Francescantonio & Alessandra Sabatti & Helena Weigand & Elise Bailly-Rioufreyt & Maria Antonietta Vincenti & Luca Carletti & Jost Kellner & Attilio Zilli & Marco Finazzi & Michele Celebran, 2025. "Efficient GHz electro-optical modulation with a nonlocal lithium niobate metasurface in the linear and nonlinear regime," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-62072-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62072-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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