Low voltage ridge guide LiNbO3 Mach-Zehnder modulator

Author

Garcìa-Granda, M. ; Hu, Haibo ; Rodriguez-Garcia, J. ; Sohler, W.

Author_Institution

Angewandte Phys., Univ. Paderborn, Paderborn, Germany

fYear

2009

fDate

14-19 June 2009

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

1

Abstract

Mach-Zehnder type interferometric (MZI) modulators based on lithium niobate (LiNbO₃) are key components in today´s optical communication systems. Despite their excellent properties, future optical networks will require devices of lower drive voltage and even higher bandwidth capability (40 GHz or higher). In particular, values of V_pi les2 V would allow using much cheaper driving electronics. This was our motivation to develop MZI modulators with two novel characteristics: the whole interferometer including Y-junctions consists of low loss ridge waveguides of strong light confinement, a special electrode structure - designed for high bandwidth operation - enables low drive voltages.

Keywords

Mach-Zehnder interferometers; electro-optical modulation; electrodes; lithium compounds; niobium compounds; optical design techniques; optical fabrication; optical losses; optical materials; optical waveguides; ridge waveguides; LiNbO₃; Mach-Zehnder type interferometric modulator; bandwidth operation; electrode structure design; light confinement; lithium niobate; low drive voltage ridge guide MZI modulator; low loss ridge waveguides; optical communication system; Bandwidth; Electrodes; Interferometric lithography; Lithium niobate; Low voltage; Optical fiber communication; Optical fiber networks; Optical interferometry; Optical modulation; Optical waveguides;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Lasers and Electro-Optics 2009 and the European Quantum Electronics Conference. CLEO Europe - EQEC 2009. European Conference on

Conference_Location

Munich

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-4079-5

Electronic_ISBN

978-1-4244-4080-1

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/CLEOE-EQEC.2009.5192059

Filename

5192059