Novel cavity design for high reflectivity changes in a normally off electroabsorption modulator

Abstract
We demonstrate both theoretically and experimentally a novel Fabry–Perot electroabsorption modulator. Both a normally off reflectivity characteristic and negative differential conductivity were obtained by increasing the optical absorption coefficient with voltage. Using the large absorption change of the quantum confined Stark effect, we obtain excellent modulation characteristics with a change in absolute reflectivity of 47% and a contrast ratio greater than 15.