Silicon nanophotonic state #4

When the voltage is applied to the contacts the current is passing across the photonic crystal waveguide. This current heats the silicon membrane that in turn results in slight changes in the refractive index of silicon due to thermo-optic effect.

Small changes in the material refractive index results in very large changes of the speed of light. Thus light pulses can be accelerated or decelerated on-demand.
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