Ultra Low Drive Voltage Electro-Optic Modulator

The development of compact, ultra-low drive voltage optical phase modulators is a critical key component for passive antenna remoting applications, a strategic area, part of a number of current and upcoming DARPA initiatives. With the development of sufficiently low V-pi modulators, passive front-ends can be constructed with a low figure even for a moderate optical pumping power. The combination of passive antenna remoting, low optical pump power and the compactness of semiconductor nanowire optical modulators will allow the development practical large-scale remoted broadband phased-arrays. With volume, the power dissipation, speed and small footprint of these modulators will additionally form an attractive solution for optical interconnects.