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Highly linear lithium niobate Michelson interferometer modulators assisted by spiral Bragg grating reflectors
Optics Express
|October 27, 2022
Summary
We developed a highly linear optical modulator using thin-film lithium niobate (LN) for analog microwave photonic links. This integrated Michelson interferometer modulator achieves superior linearity and a wide bandwidth up to 18 GHz.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Materials Science
- Electrical Engineering
Background:
- Analog microwave photonic links require highly linear electro-optic modulators for efficient optical and RF field mixing.
- Existing modulators often face limitations in linearity, impacting overall system performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a monolithic integrated Michelson interferometer modulator on thin-film lithium niobate (LN).
- To achieve linearized performance in an integrated modulator through novel Bragg grating reflector design.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a Michelson interferometer modulator on Z-cut LN using rib etching.
- Integration of spiral-shaped waveguide Bragg gratings with top and bottom electrodes for modulation.
- Utilizing silicon dioxide and SU-8 polymer for cladding layers to define optical waveguides.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a compact modulator (80 µm × 80 µm) with a 3 mm grating, operating up to 18 GHz.
- Achieved a spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) of 101.2 dB·Hz2/3 at 1 GHz, significantly outperforming a reference Mach-Zehnder modulator (91.5 dB·Hz2/3).
Conclusions:
- The integrated Michelson interferometer modulator offers enhanced linearity for analog photonic links.
- The design shows potential for substantial improvements in analog modulator-based integrated optical links.
