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Trade-off between optical modulation amplitude and modulation bandwidth of silicon micro-ring modulators
Optics Express
|July 1, 2014
Summary
An analytic model analyzes silicon ring modulators. Shifting operation wavelength away from resonance boosts modulation bandwidth by 2.1x, with a 3 dB penalty to optical modulation amplitude (OMA).
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Optical Engineering
- Semiconductor Device Physics
Background:
- Carrier-depletion silicon ring modulators are key components in optical communication.
- Understanding their dynamic response is crucial for optimizing performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate an analytic model for silicon ring modulator dynamic response.
- To investigate methods for maximizing optical modulation amplitude (OMA) and trading OMA for bandwidth.
Main Methods:
- Development of an analytic model for carrier-depletion silicon ring modulators.
- Experimental validation using small signal frequency response measurements.
- Parametric analysis of coupling strength and operation wavelength effects on OMA and bandwidth.
Main Results:
- The analytic model accurately predicts the small signal frequency response.
- Shifting the operation wavelength away from resonance increases 3dB modulation bandwidth.
- A ~2.1x bandwidth increase is achievable with a 3 dB OMA penalty when RC time constant equals photon lifetime.
Conclusions:
- The developed model provides valuable insights into silicon ring modulator dynamics.
- Strategic tuning of operation wavelength offers a trade-off between OMA and modulation bandwidth.
- This study offers guidelines for designing high-performance silicon ring modulators.
