Enhancing electrooptic modulators using modulation instability

Abstract

Abstract As electronic operating frequencies increase toward the terahertz regime, new electrooptic modulators capable of low‐voltage high‐frequency operation must be developed to provide the necessary optical interconnects. This Letter presents a new concept that exploits modulation instability to compensate for the intrinsically weak electrooptic effect, χ (2) . Simulations demonstrate more than 50 times enhancement of electrooptic effect at millimeter wave frequencies leading to a substantial reduction in the required modulation voltage. magnified image Modulation instability simulation showing increased modulation depth of sidebands on an optical carrier. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)