Silica/Electro-Optic Polymer Optical Modulator With Integrated Antenna for Microwave Receiving

Author

Herrera, Oscar D. ; Kyung-Jo Kim ; Voorakaranam, R. ; Himmelhuber, Roland ; Shiyi Wang ; Demir, Veysel ; Qiwen Zhan ; Li Li ; Norwood, Robert A. ; Nelson, Robert L. ; Jingdong Luo ; Jen, Alex K.-Y ; Peyghambarian, N.

Author_Institution

Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

Volume

32

Issue

20

fYear

2014

fDate

Oct.15, 15 2014

Firstpage

3861

Lastpage

3867

Abstract

A silica/electro-optic (EO) polymer phase modulator is proposed for microwave radiation receiver with the use of a bowtie antenna. Waveguide design optimization is presented for a waveguide with an EO polymer core and silica/sol-gel cladding. Electrode effects on the insertion loss and poling efficiency are also analyzed and conditions for low-loss and high poling efficiency established. The bowtie antenna is simulated and shows a broadband response with a maximum at 5 GHz and a 3 dB-bandwidth of approximately 12 GHz. A fiber splicing technique is presented that reduces coupling loss between SMF-28 and the waveguide. Experimental results for a fabricated device with microwave-response between 10-14 GHz are shown with carrier to first sideband intensity difference of up to -36 dB.

Keywords

bow-tie antennas; electro-optical modulation; integrated optics; microwave antennas; microwave photonics; microwave receivers; optical design techniques; optical fibre communication; optical fibre couplers; optical fibre fabrication; optical fibre losses; optical polymers; optical receivers; optimisation; silicon compounds; sol-gel processing; SMF-28; SiO₂; bowtie antenna; electrode effects; fiber coupling loss reduction; fiber splicing technique; frequency 5 GHz; gain 3 dB; integrated antenna; microwave radiation receiver; poling efficiency; silica-electrooptic polymer phase modulator; silica-sol-gel cladding; waveguide design optimization; Electrodes; Electrooptic modulators; Electrooptical waveguides; Microwave antennas; Optical device fabrication; Polymers; Electrooptic modulators; microwave receivers; optical polymers; optical waveguides;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JLT.2014.2316672

Filename

6787019