Traveling-wave electro-optic modulator with maximum bandwidth-length product

Abstract

A traveling-wave Ti-indiffused LiNbO3 guided-wave Mach–Zehnder interferometric modulator has been fabricated and characterized at λ=0.85 μm. The modulator achieves the theoretical 3-dB linear small-signal bandwidth limit of 16 GHz for a 4-mm-long interaction length. With a ±2.25-V drive signal, an extinction ratio of 22 dB is achieved. Linear small-signal measurements made with a swept-frequency technique are compared to previously reported measurements.