Electrooptical modulation in multiple quantum well hetero nipi waveguides

Author

Thirstrup, C. ; Robson, P.N. ; Wa, P. Li Kam ; Pate, M.A. ; Button, C.C. ; Roberts, J.S.

Author_Institution

Mikroelektronik Centre, Tech. Univ. Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark

Volume

12

Issue

3

fYear

1994

fDate

3/1/1994 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

425

Lastpage

429

Abstract

An optical intensity modulator based on multiple quantum well hetero (MQW-H) nipi waveguides is reported. In the low optical power regime (~10^-5 W), the modulator exhibits an extinction ratio in excess of 100:1 at low drive voltage (4 V) and 5-B attenuation. Modelling and experimental results of the time response of the waveguide modulator are presented, and it is shown that the response is limited by the RC time constant of the drive circuit and the photocurrent charging up a dielectric capacitance. The modelling shows that with a loss penalty of ~1.5 dB, the speed of the present waveguide modulator is limited solely by the RC time constant that would allow modulation speeds of ~100 ps

Keywords

capacitance; electro-optical devices; integrated optics; optical modulation; optical waveguides; photoconductivity; semiconductor quantum wells; MQW; RC time constant; dielectric capacitance; drive circuit; electrooptical modulation; extinction ratio; loss penalty; low drive voltage; low optical power regime; modelling; multiple quantum well hetero nipi waveguides; optical intensity modulator; photocurrent charging; time response; waveguide modulator; Circuits; Electrooptic modulators; Extinction ratio; Intensity modulation; Low voltage; Optical attenuators; Optical modulation; Optical waveguides; Quantum well devices; Time factors;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/50.285324

Filename

285324