Title :
Limits to modulation rates of electroabsorption modulators
Author :
Forsberg, Erik ; Hessmo, Björn ; Thylén, Lars
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Microelectron. & Inf. Technol., R. Inst. of Technol., Kista, Sweden
fDate :
4/1/2004 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
We analyze the speed limitations of optical electroabsorption modulators. We argue that modulation rate limits are closely related to quantum mechanical adiabaticity. By analyzing the breakdown of the adiabatic approximation, analytical expressions for modulation limits are found. These expressions are numerically validated. Furthermore, we discuss the constraints on the allowable modulation rate set by losses from the quantum well and transition linewidth.
Keywords :
electro-optical modulation; electroabsorption; optical losses; quantum well devices; semiconductor device models; semiconductor quantum wells; adiabatic approximation; electroabsorption modulators; losses; modulation rates; quantum mechanical adiabaticity; quantum well; speed limitations; transition linewidth; Electric breakdown; Energy states; Optical losses; Optical modulation; Optical refraction; Optical variables control; Quantum cascade lasers; Quantum mechanics; Schrodinger equation; Voltage;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
DOI :
10.1109/JQE.2004.825209
