Title :
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
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 Vpi 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;
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
DOI :
10.1109/CLEOE-EQEC.2009.5192059
