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Optics Express

Optics Express

  • Editor: C. Martijn de Sterke
  • Vol. 20, Iss. 15 — Jul. 16, 2012
  • pp: 16321–16338

Optics InfoBase > Optics Express > Volume 20 > Issue 15 > Page 16321

Cascaded-ring-resonator-loaded Mach–Zehnder modulator for enhanced modulation efficiency in wide optical bandwidth

Suguru Akiyama, Teruo Kurahashi, Ken Morito, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, Tatsuya Usuki, and Shintaro Nomura  »View Author Affiliations


Optics Express, Vol. 20, Issue 15, pp. 16321-16338 (2012)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.20.016321


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Abstract

A cascaded-ring-resonator-loaded Mach–Zehnder modulator (CRR-MZM) is presented in which a number of cascaded ring resonators (RRs) are loaded in the interferometer as phase modulators. The ability of the design to provide enhanced modulation efficiency at a wide optical bandwidth is demonstrated in comparison with a conventional single-RR-type modulator without an interferometer. The optimization of RRs for the CRR-MZM is investigated experimentally by measuring the transmission spectra in both intensity and group delay of RRs having various structural parameters. Using the optimized parameters, we fabricated a CRR-MZM with 10 cascaded RRs loaded on each arm of the interferometer on a silicon-on-insulate substrate. The RRs had pin-diodes along the waveguides, which were operated with forward bias voltage. Its modulation efficiency was enhanced by a factor of 4.4 at the expense of additional loss of less than 3.5 dB compared with a standard non-resonant MZM. 10 Gb/s-operations of CRR-MZM were successfully demonstrated using pre-emphasized RF signals with amplitude of 1.5 Vpp in a wavelength range of 2 nm.

© 2012 OSA

OCIS Codes
(230.5750) Optical devices : Resonators
(250.5300) Optoelectronics : Photonic integrated circuits
(250.7360) Optoelectronics : Waveguide modulators
(250.4110) Optoelectronics : Modulators

ToC Category:
Optoelectronics

History
Original Manuscript: April 12, 2012
Revised Manuscript: May 20, 2012
Manuscript Accepted: May 22, 2012
Published: July 3, 2012

Citation
Suguru Akiyama, Teruo Kurahashi, Ken Morito, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, Tatsuya Usuki, and Shintaro Nomura, "Cascaded-ring-resonator-loaded Mach–Zehnder modulator for enhanced modulation efficiency in wide optical bandwidth," Opt. Express 20, 16321-16338 (2012)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-20-15-16321


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