Broadband nanoelectromechanical phase shifting of light on a chip

We demonstrate an optomechanical phase shifter. By electrostatically deflecting the nanofabricated mechanical structure, the effective index of a nearby waveguide is changed and the resulting phase shift is measured using an integrated Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Comparing to thermo-optical phase shifters, our device does not consume power in static operation and also it can operate over large frequency, wavelength, and power ranges. Operation in the MHz range and sub-mu s pulses is demonstrated. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.