Electroabsorption modulator with passive waveguide spotsize converters

Abstract
The authors demonstrate an electroabsorption modulator operating at 1.55 µm wavelength, which is integrated with passive waveguide gradually tapered spotsize transformers allowing a low loss coupling to cleaved flat optical fibres. The modulator has 10.1 dB total fibre to fibre insertion loss with 15 dB extinction ratio and 300 Å spectral range. The modulator polarisation sensitivity is lower than 0.5 dB.