Electro-Optic Frequency-Agile Modulators

One of the next microwave photonic system applications is high-speed, high-resolution, electro-optic processing of microwave/mm-wave signals. Many new functions can be conceived of using electro-optic devices such as analog to digital converters, photonic RF phase shifters, photonic RF converters, and digital optical switches. Phased array antennas using photonics based radio-frequency (RF) phase shifters hold great promise for advanced wireless communications and radar applications due to their many advantages such as simple implementation and optical distribution capability. What is common for all of these applications is the need for an extremely high speed, low drive voltage, and compact electro-optic device platform that can integrate a large number of devices with extremely low loss such that these advanced functions can be realized. Archcom’s proposal is to monolithically integrate its state of the art InP-based DFB laser technology with its InP-based multiple quantum well p-i-n 65GHz modulator technology to create a single sideband (SSB) optical transmitter. The monolithically integrated chip will achieve bandwidths in excess of 65GHz, modulator drive voltages less than 2V for extinction ratios of 10dB, and output optical powers in excess of 30mW.