Open AccessSilicon photonics plasma-modulators with advanced transmission line design
Author(s) -
Florian Merget,
Saeed Sharif Azadeh,
Juliana Mueller,
Bin Shen,
Maziar P. Nezhad,
Johannes Hauck,
Jeremy Witzens
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.21.019593
Subject(s) - bandwidth (computing) , photonics , optics , electric power transmission , transmission line , interferometry , silicon photonics , mach–zehnder interferometer , physics , materials science , optoelectronics , computer science , telecommunications , electrical engineering , engineering
We have investigated two novel concepts for the design of transmission lines in travelling wave Mach-Zehnder interferometer based Silicon Photonics depletion modulators overcoming the analog bandwidth limitations arising from cross-talk between signal lines in push-pull modulators and reducing the linear losses of the transmission lines. We experimentally validate the concepts and demonstrate an E/O -3 dBe bandwidth of 16 GHz with a 4V drive voltage (in dual drive configuration) and 8.8 dB on-chip insertion losses. Significant bandwidth improvements result from suppression of cross-talk. An additional bandwidth enhancement of ~11% results from a reduction of resistive transmission line losses. Frequency dependent loss models for loaded transmission lines and E/O bandwidth modeling are fully verified.