Optical waveguide modulator

A method of modulating input light, the method comprising:

• receiving the input light into an input optical port of an optical modulator comprising a first waveguide arm and a second waveguide arm each extending optically in parallel between the input optical port and an output optical port, for transmitting the input light from the input optical port to the output optical port along two light paths traversing N successive modulator sections of the optical modulator, N≥2;
• converting an input data signal into N differential drive signals, and providing the N differential drive signals separately to each of the N successive modulator sections of the optical modulator;
• and,
• in each of the N successive modulator sections, applying a corresponding one of the N differential drive signals to the first waveguide arm and, in parallel, to the second waveguide arm
• wherein the applying comprises:
• providing the corresponding one of the N differential drive signals to a first pair of electrodes disposed within one of the N successive modulator sections so as to be electro-optically coupled to the first waveguide arm along a length portion thereof located within said modulator section, and
• providing an inverted version of the corresponding one of the N differential drive signals to a second pair of electrodes disposed within said modulator section so as to be electro-optically coupled to the second waveguide arm along a length portion thereof located within said modulator section,
• so as to effect a dual-differential push-pull modulation of the input light in each of the N successive modulator sections of the optical modulator.