10 Gbit/s, 1.56 μm multiquantum well InP/InGaAsP Mach–Zehnder optical modulator

Abstract

10 Gbit/s modulation using a III-V semiconductor Mach–Zehnder interferometer is reported for the first time. The modulator has a −3 dB bandwidth in excess of 15 GHz and is operated in a push–pull drive configuration with only 2 V peak to peak. 10 Gbit/s nonreturn to zero format eye diagrams with an extinction ratio > 10 dB are demonstrated.