Nonsymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometers used as low-drive-voltage modulators
- 1 January 1988
- journal article
- Published by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in Journal of Lightwave Technology
- Vol. 6 (8) , 1348-1351
- https://doi.org/10.1109/50.4140
Abstract
Optical communications systems require fast optical modulators which are compatible with existing microwave-frequency drive circuits and which have low voltage requirements. The authors have designed and demonstrated a novel type of integrated optical modulator: a nonsymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer, which has both low switching voltage and efficient coupling to microwave-frequency drive circuits. In 2-cm-long devices, made in z-cut LiNbO/sub 3/, switching voltages of 3.2 V and better than 20-dB extinction ratio were measured at lambda =1.3 mu m. Device performance in the nonsymmetric devices was independent of the asymmetry, which indicates that devices of this kind are tolerant of fabrication variations.Keywords
This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit:
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