Integrated active/passive visible/UV modulator

An integrated passive/active modulator comprising:

• at least one passive/active modulator unit, comprising:
• an upstream passive portion comprising a portion of a passive waveguide;
• a downstream passive portion comprising a continuation of the passive waveguide;
• and
• an active portion between the upstream passive portion and the downstream passive portion, the active portion comprising (a) an active waveguide, (b) electrical contacts in electrical communication with the active waveguide, and (c) a central portion of the passive waveguide,
• wherein the active waveguide comprises at least one of (a) an upstream taper or (b) a downstream taper, the upstream taper configured to optically couple the active waveguide to the portion of the passive waveguide of the upstream portion, and the downstream taper configured to optically couple the active waveguide to the continuation of the passive waveguide of the downstream portion;
• and
• at least one additional passive waveguide coupled to the upstream passive portion and the downstream passive portion via one or more beam splitters and/or beam combiners, wherein a beam combiner of the one or more beam splitters and/or beam combiners is configured to couple a first beam output by the downstream portion with a second beam to cause interference of the first beam and the second beam.

An integrated passive/active modulator comprising:

• at least one pair of passive/active modulator units, each passive/active modulator unit of the at least one pair of passive/active modulator units comprising:
• an upstream passive portion comprising a passive waveguide;
• a downstream passive portion comprising a continuation of the passive waveguide;
• and
• an active portion between the upstream passive portion and the downstream passive portion, the active portion comprising an active waveguide and electrical contacts in electrical communication with the active waveguide,
• wherein the active waveguide comprises at least one of (a) an upstream taper or (b) a downstream taper, the upstream taper configured to optically couple the active waveguide to the passive waveguide of the upstream portion, and the downstream taper configured to optically couple the active waveguide to the continuation of the passive waveguide of the downstream portion at least one additional passive waveguide coupled to the upstream passive portion and the downstream passive portion via one or more beam splitters and/or beam combiners,
• wherein the at least one pair of passive/active modulator units are coupled to one another in parallel.