Chinese Optics Letters, Volume. 23, Issue 7, (2025)
Segmented electric field poling of Si3N4-polymer hybrid electro-optic waveguides [Early Posting]
Electric field poling of electro-optic polymer (EOP) in hybrid waveguides is highly challenging due to the discontinuity in electric field distribution, leading to low Pockels EO coefficient or dielectric breakdown. We propose the segmented poling technique in Si3N4(SN)/EOP hybrid waveguides to address this challenge. Dipolar chromophores near electrode interface firstly align with weak poling electric field and then strong field is applied for chromophore alignment near waveguide interface. It effectively avoids dielectric breakdown and the tuning efficiency of EO MZI filters is improved from 31.7 pm/V to higher than 50 pm/V, with a highest Pockels coefficient of 114 pm/V.