Title :
An integrated photonic Mach-Zehnder interferometer with no electrodes for sensing electric fields
Author :
Naghski, David H. ; Boyd, Joseph T. ; Jackson, Howard E. ; Sriram, S. ; Kingsley, S.A. ; Latess, J.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Cincinnati Univ., OH, USA
fDate :
6/1/1994 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A new configuration for a Mach-Zehnder interferometric electric field sensor device utilizing the electrooptic effect is reported. The lithium niobate device uses no metallic electrodes and operates solely by immersion in an electric field. Reverse poling of one arm of the interferometer provides opposing optical phase changes in the two interferometer arms when placed in an electric field. One fabricated device exhibits a measured minimum detectable field of 0.22 V/m√Hz and a frequency response of greater than 1 GHz. Theoretical calculations show that detection of 0.11 V/m√Hz is attainable while the upper frequency limit can exceed 6 GHz
Keywords :
electric field measurement; electro-optical devices; frequency response; integrated optics; light interferometers; lithium compounds; LiNbO3; Mach-Zehnder interferometric electric field sensor device; electrooptic effect; frequency response; integrated photonic Mach-Zehnder interferometer; interferometer arms; minimum detectable field; optical phase changes; reverse poling; upper frequency limit; Arm; Electrodes; Electrooptic effects; Frequency measurement; Frequency response; Interferometric lithography; Lithium niobate; Optical interferometry; Optical sensors; Optoelectronic and photonic sensors;
Journal_Title :
Lightwave Technology, Journal of
