Low voltage traveling wave electro-absorption modulator for high bandwidth operation

An electro-absorption modulator (EAM) device comprising:

• an optical waveguide comprising alternating active sections and passive sections, wherein the optical waveguide is configured to facilitate a propagation of an optical signal therethrough;
• a segmented traveling wave electrode structure comprising electrode segments disposed on the waveguide;
• and
• an electrical transmission line operatively coupled to the electrode segments via conducting bridges, wherein the electrical transmission line is configured to facilitate a propagation of an electrical signal therethrough,
• wherein the EAM device is configured for operation by an RF source in a direct drive modulation mode, wherein the RF source is a Serializer-Deserializer (SerDes) transmitter that is configured to supply the electrical signal at a driving voltage of 0.45V, and
• wherein dimensions of the optical waveguide and the electrode segments are defined by using the product of a dynamic extinction ratio slope (ERS), a bandwidth of the EAM device, and a width of the optical waveguide.

A method of generating an optical output signal using an electro-absorption modulator (EAM) device, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a laser source, a continuous wave (CW) light via an optical waveguide, wherein the optical waveguide comprises a segmented traveling wave (S-TW) electrode structure comprising electrode segments disposed thereon, wherein the optical waveguide comprises alternating active sections and passive sections, wherein each electrode segment is disposed on a corresponding active section;
• receiving, from a radio frequency (RF) source, an electrical signal having a driving voltage of about 0.45V via an electrical transmission line, wherein the electrical transmission line is operatively coupled to the electrode segments via conducting bridges;
• generating, using the EAM device, an optical output signal based on at least the CW light;
• and
• transmitting the optical output signal via the optical waveguide to an external circuit, wherein dimensions of the optical waveguide and the electrode segments are defined by using the product of a dynamic extinction ratio slope (ERS), a bandwidth of the EAM device, and a width of the optical waveguide.