Title :
High-speed low-voltage modulation with a nonsymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer
Author :
Jackel, Janet L. ; Perlmutter, Pinhas ; Johnson, John
Author_Institution :
Bell Commun. Res., Red Bank, NJ, USA
fDate :
6/1/1989 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
The authors demonstrate broadband optical modulation with a Ti:LiNbO3 nonsymmetric interferometer at microwave frequencies up to 16 GHz. The 3-dB bandwidth of 8.7 GHz is only slightly less than the theoretical limit of 9.6 GHz for a 1-cm-long device. The device uses a 2-μm-thick gold-plated asymmetric stripline electrode, with a characteristic impedance of 40 Ω and ohmic loss of 3 dB/cm at 10 GHz. The DC switching voltage is 6.5 V, and the on/off ratio is -16 dB. Fabrication tolerances in the nonsymmetric interferometer are much less strict than for directional coupler modulators with comparable performance, making this device a better candidate for use in communications systems
Keywords :
electro-optical devices; light interferometers; lithium compounds; optical modulation; titanium; 1 cm; 10 GHz; 2 micron; 6.5 V; 8.7 GHz; Au; Au-plated electrode; DC switching voltage; LiNbO3:Ti; asymmetric stripline electrode; broadband optical modulation; characteristic impedance; communications systems; fabrication tolerances; high speed low-voltage modulation; microwave frequencies; nonsymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer; ohmic loss; on/off ratio; Bandwidth; Communication switching; Electrodes; Fabrication; Impedance; Microwave frequencies; Optical interferometry; Optical modulation; Stripline; Voltage;
Journal_Title :
Lightwave Technology, Journal of
