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Plasmonic Lithium Niobate Mach-Zehnder Modulators
Martin Thomaschewski1, Vladimir A Zenin1, Saskia Fiedler1
1Center for Nano Optics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark.
Nano Letters
|August 11, 2022
Summary
This study presents a highly efficient plasmonic lithium niobate Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM). This compact device offers faster switching speeds and improved power efficiency for advanced photonic applications.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Materials Science
- Electrical Engineering
Background:
- Lithium niobate Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZMs) are crucial in various technologies.
- Current MZMs face limitations in size, power efficiency, and switching speed for future demands.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a more efficient lithium niobate Mach-Zehnder modulator using plasmonics.
- To address the limitations of conventional MZMs in terms of size, power consumption, and speed.
Main Methods:
- Integration of gold nanostripes onto lithium niobate to guide plasmonic modes and electrical signals.
- Utilizing plasmonic modes to control optical phase delay for electro-optic modulation.
- Operating the MZM near its quadrature point for enhanced linearity.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the most efficient lithium niobate MZM to date with VπL = 0.23 Vcm.
- Achieved high linearity with a modulation depth greater than 2 dB.
- The device operates reliably at ambient temperatures.
Conclusions:
- Plasmonics offers a viable solution for creating compact and efficient lithium niobate MZMs.
- The demonstrated MZM is suitable for applications requiring compact (<1 mm²) and fast (>10 GHz) photonic components.
- This advancement paves the way for next-generation optical modulation technologies.
