Differential drive modulator structures for a linear electro-optic platform

A method of modulating an optical signal, comprising:

• splitting the optical signal into a first optical signal and a second optical signal;
• providing the first optical signal to a first optical arm of a linear electro-optic modulator;
• providing the second optical signal to a second optical arm of the linear electro-optic modulator;
• applying a differential electrical signal to a first signal trace and a second signal trace of the linear electro-optic modulator to modulate the first optical signal and the second optical signal, resulting in a modulated first optical signal and a modulated second optical signal;
• and
• combining the modulated first optical signal and the modulated second optical signal, wherein a geometry of the first signal trace and the second signal trace of the linear electro-optic modulator causes the differential electrical signal to modulate first optical signal in the first optical arm and the second optical signal in the second optical arm, such that when the optical signals are combined to create a resultant optical signal, the geometry mitigates chirp in the resultant optical signal,
• wherein the geometry comprises an electrical crossover of the first signal trace and the second signal trace, and
• wherein a first ratio of a segment length before and after the electrical crossover is less than one and is the inverse of a second ratio of an average attenuation before and after the electrical crossover.

A method for manufacturing a linear electro-optic modulator, comprising:

• forming a first optical arm;
• forming a second optical arm;
• and
• forming a first signal trace and a second signal trace, wherein a geometry of the first signal trace and the second signal trace causes a differential signal applied to the first signal trace and the second signal trace to modulate a first optical signal in the first optical arm and a second optical signal in the second optical arm, such that a combination of the first optical signal and the second optical signal creates a resultant optical signal, wherein the geometry mitigates chirp in the resultant optical signal, wherein the geometry comprises an electrical crossover of the first signal trace and the second signal trace, and wherein a first ratio of a segment length before and after the electrical crossover is less than one and is the inverse of a second ratio of an average attenuation before and after the electrical crossover.