Highly efficient waveguide phase modulator for integrated optoelectronics

Abstract

The characteristics of novel reverse-biased waveguide phase modulators are reported. These devices, which use the translation of a depletion edge, have provided the highest efficiency figure of merit (56 °/Vmm) ever reported for a reverse-biased device. Furthermore, the speed of the device is only limited by the RC time constant. The investigated devices were GaAs/AlGaAs ridge waveguide modulators, a geometry which is well suited for integrated optoelectronics.