Push–pull electro-optic polymer modulators with low half-wave voltage and low loss at both 1310 and 1550 nm

Abstract

Push–pull polymeric electro-optic Mach–Zehnder (MZ) modulators with $V_{\pi }$ of 1.2 and 1.8 V at 1310 and 1550 nm, respectively, with an interaction length of 2 cm are demonstrated. These devices were made from second-order nonlinear optic guest–host polymers that consisted of a phenyltetraene bridged high μβ chromophore guest and an amorphous polycarbonate host. Poling was done in ${\mathrm{N}}_{\mathrm{2}}$ atmosphere to avoid chromophore bleaching by oxidation. A MZ-like two-arm microstrip line was used as the driving electrode in these devices. The optical response dropped 3 dB electrical from 2 to 20 GHz. These 3 cm long devices have 5 dB total chip loss at both wavelengths and good thermal stability.