Highly sensitive InP-based phase modulators based on stepped quantum wells

H. Mohseni*, H. An, Z. Shellenbarger, M. H. Kwakernaak, A. Lepore, J. H. Abeles

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationConference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, CLEO 2003
PublisherOptica Publishing Group (formerly OSA)
ISBN (Electronic)9781557528209
StatePublished - 2003
EventConference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, CLEO 2003 - Baltimore, United States
Duration: Jun 1 2003Jun 6 2003

Publication series

NameOptics InfoBase Conference Papers

Conference

ConferenceConference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, CLEO 2003
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBaltimore
Period6/1/036/6/03

Funding

Optical absorption coefficient and change of index of the modulators are measured using the optical transmission, modulator’s photoresponse, and Fabry-Perot oscillation shifts. Figure 1 shows an example of the measured change of index versus wavelength for different biases in a modulator with a two-step quantum well design. Figure 2 shows the measured overall loss versus change of index for a modulator with an optimized three-step quantum well at different biases. Solid lines are the calculated absorption versus change of index and show good agreement with the experimental data. Figure 3 compares the optical loss versus change of index of a modulator with conventional square quantum wells and an otherwise similar modulator with a three-step quantum well design at 1.55 mm. The change of index of the square quantum wells for absorption coefficient below 1 cm-1is about ~1x10-4 /V, similar to the reported values in the literature [3], while it is 2.9x10-4 /V for the three-step quantum well. This leads to a reduction of VpL product from ~7.6 Vmm to 2.6 Vmm. Since the modulator power consumption is proportional to the square of the operating voltage, this results in nearly one order of magnitude lower power consumption per unit length for the step quantum well design. Partial support for this research was provided by U. S. Government contract # F30602-00-C-0116.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Mechanics of Materials

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