Neutron and X-ray irradiation of silicon based Mach-Zehnder modulators

Abstract

We report on our recent investigation into the potential for using silicon-based Mach-Zehnder modulators in the harshest radiation environments of the High-Luminosity LHC. The effect of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation on the performance of the devices have been investigated using the 20 MeV neutron beam line at the Cyclotron Resource Centre in Louvain-La-Neuve and the X-ray irradiation facility in the CERN PH department. The devices were exposed to a total fluence and ionizing dose of 1.2×10(15) n cm(−)(2) and 1.3 MGy respectively.