Electro-optic modulators

A Mach-Zehnder modulator comprising:

• a first optical waveguide forming a first modulator arm and a second optical waveguide forming a second modulator arm of the Mach-Zehnder modulator;
• an electrode arrangement comprising a plurality of first waveguide electrodes for applying a voltage across the first optical waveguide and a plurality of second waveguide electrodes for applying a voltage across the second optical waveguide, wherein at least one voltage source is to be connected to the first waveguide electrodes and the second waveguide electrodes in such a way that the potential of the first waveguide electrodes is different from the potential of the second waveguide electrodes;
• and
• at least one electrically conductive connecting element generating a short-circuit between at least one of the first waveguide electrodes and at least one of the second waveguide electrodes,
• wherein the first waveguide electrodes are galvanically separated from one another and the second waveguide electrodes are galvanically separated from one another, and
• further comprising a plurality of driver units, wherein each one of the driver units is assigned to one of the first waveguide electrodes and to one of the second waveguide electrodes, wherein the driver units are realized by amplifiers.

An electro-absorption modulator, comprising:

• a single optical waveguide;
• an electrode arrangement comprising at least one waveguide electrode for applying a voltage across the optical waveguide and a first and a second electrical line,
• wherein the first and the second electrical lines are located adjacent and on different sides of the optical waveguide, the electrical lines extending at least essentially parallel to the optical waveguide,
• wherein at least one voltage source is to be connected to the waveguide electrode and the first and second electrical lines in such a way that the potential of the waveguide electrode is different from the potential of the first and second electrical lines;
• and
• at least one electrically conductive connecting element generating a short-circuit between the waveguide electrode and at least one of the first and second electrical lines.
• wherein the at least one voltage source is connected to the waveguide electrode and the first and second electrical lines via an electrical line that is arranged in addition to the connecting element which generates the short-circuit.