UBC Faculty Research and Publications

40 GHz electro-optic polarization modulator for fiber optic communications systems. Bull, Jeffrey D.; Jaeger, Nicolas A. F.; Kato, Hiroshi; Fairburn, Mark; Reid, Adam; Ghanipour, Pejman

Abstract

A novel ultrahigh-speed electro-optic polarization modulator is introduced. The modulator uses a mode converter and a static polarization controller to change the output polarization state in a circular path, following a great circle, around the Poincar sphere. Any two states on the Poincar sphere can be connected. The mode converter is constructed using an AlGaAs ridge waveguide combined with slow-wave travelling wave electrodes. The travelling wave electrodes are designed to match the velocity of the electrical modulating signal, the data signal, to the optical carrier signal over a broad frequency range. This modulator demonstrates a 3 dB bandwidth in excess of 40 GHz. The polarization modulator exhibits extremely low differential group delay, on the order of a few 10s of femto-seconds, and low drive voltage, on the order of 5 V. Copyright 2004 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.

Item Media

Item Citations and Data

Rights

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International