Light-controlled photonics-based mm-wave beam switch

We present experimental investigation of light-controlled photonics-enhanced quasi-optical mm-wave beam switch operating at a resonant frequency in the mm-wave band of 75 to 110 GHz. The switch is implemented as a Bragg structure with a resonant layer of high-resistivity silicon that creates a narrow transmission peak within the mm-wave propagation gap. The peak amplitude is sensitive to the intensity of light pulses illuminating the structure. When using a silicon wafer of 30 KOhm.cm resistivity and light pulses created by a 400 W LED-array light source, we achieved mm-wave transmission peak modulation exceeding 15 dB. (C) 2016 Optical Society of America