Abstract

We propose an intensity modulator based on injection locking of a resonant cavity with gain that has a linear transfer function, multigigahertz bandwidth, possible optical gain, and very low $V_{\pi }$. The arcsine phase response of the injection-locked resonant cavity placed in one arm of a Mach–Zehnder interferometer is the key to the true linear performance of this modulator. The first (to our knowledge) demonstration of this modulator with $5\mathrm{GHz}$ bandwidth, $V_{\pi }$ of $\sim 2.6\mathrm{mV}$, and $95\mathrm{dB}$ spur-free dynamic range is reported here.

© 2010 Optical Society of America

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