Over 67 GHz Bandwidth and 1.5 V Vπ InP-Based Optical IQ Modulator With n-i-p-n Heterostructure

Abstract

We report novel high-bandwidth InP-based Mach-Zehnder modulator and in-phase/quadrature (IQ) modulators that we realized by combining an n-i-p-n heterostructure and a capacitively loaded traveling wave electrode. The extremely low electrical and optical loss structure enhances the 3-dB electro-optic bandwidth of over 67 GHz without degrading other properties such as driving voltage and optical loss. The modulator also exhibits a static extinction ratio of over 24 dB with a Vπ of less than 1.5 V for the entire C-band. Furthermore, we demonstrate the first 120-Gbaud rate IQ modulation without optical pre equalization, and 100-Gb/s non-return-to-zero on-off keying modulation with a dynamic extinction ratio of over 10 dB.