High-performance, high-isolation optical guided-wave device arrays

Dense arrays of high-performance photonic devices could provide many advantages to photonic systems in terms of system performance and cost. However, many problems exist. These include individual device performance, device-to-device crosstalk, packaging, and cost. To investigate these issues, arrays of traveling-wave electrooptic modulators based on LiNbO₃ (lithium niobate) have-been designed, implemented, and evaluated. Four-element arrays of 20-GHz modulators have been demonstrated for the first time with modulator-to-modulator crosstalk of less than -50 dB even though the modulator die reside on the same substrate and are separated by only 1.5 mm. The approach developed is extendable to arrays containing up to 100 elements