High-Performance Electroabsorption Modulators Utilizing Microwave Reflection Control Technique

A microwave reflection control technique that improves the performance of electroabsorption modulators (EAMs) is presented. The technique exploits the superposition of incident and reflected electrical signals as a modulation signal to enhance the modulation signal voltage applied to EAMs and therefore differs from conventional impedance matching techniques in terms of operating principle. A nearly flat electrical-to-optical frequency response up to 50 GHz and significant improvement in eye openings at 40 Gbit/s have been achieved with the technique. The effects of the technique are demonstrated through both experimental and computational investigations.