Optics Express · 2007 · 738 citations · 0 references
EngineeringElectrical EngineeringOptoelectronicsPhotonicsSemiconductor DevicesModulationOptical ModulationOptical ModulatorsOptoelectronic DevicesPhotonic Integrated CircuitsSilicon PhotonicsElectro-optic ModulatorsIntegrated Optical ModulatorsLow-power ModulationMach-zehnder ModulatorsModulation EfficiencySemiconductor Optical ModulatorsSilicon Optical ModulationSilicon Photonic Modulators
Silicon p(+)-i-n(+) diode Mach-Zehnder electrooptic modulators having an ultra-compact length of 100 to 200 mum are presented. These devices exhibit high modulation efficiency, with a V(pi)L figure of merit of 0.36 V-mm. Optical modulation at data rates up to 10 Gb/s is demonstrated with low RF power consumption of only 5 pJ/bit.