Open AccessHighly linear silicon traveling wave Mach-Zehnder carrier depletion modulator based on differential drive
Author(s) -
Matthew Streshinsky,
Ali Ayazi,
Zhe Xuan,
Andy Eu-Jin Lim,
GuoQiang Lo,
Tom BaehrJones,
Michael Hochberg
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.21.003818
Subject(s) - intermodulation , electro optic modulator , optics , distortion (music) , silicon , dynamic range , linearity , total harmonic distortion , mach–zehnder interferometer , materials science , physics , optical modulator , optoelectronics , phase modulation , amplifier , interferometry , power (physics) , cmos , quantum mechanics , phase noise
We present measurements of the nonlinear distortions of a traveling-wave silicon Mach-Zehnder modulator based on the carrier depletion effect. Spurious free dynamic range for second harmonic distortion of 82 dB·Hz(1/2) is seen, and 97 dB·Hz(2/3) is measured for intermodulation distortion. This measurement represents an improvement of 20 dB over the previous best result in silicon. We also show that the linearity of a silicon traveling wave Mach-Zehnder modulator can be improved by differentially driving it. These results suggest silicon may be a suitable platform for analog optical applications.