US 2020/0050027 A1 · Method and System for Optical Phase Modulation with Reduced Harmonic Content

Abstract

An optical phase modulation device for modulating a phase of an input light signal at a modulation frequency is provided, which can be used in integrated photonics applications. The device can include an optical phase modulator, for example a thermo-optic phase shifter having an effective refractive index that depends linearly temperature, configured to impart a phase shift to the input light signal, the phase shift varying quadratically in response to an applied modulating electric drive signal. The device can also include a phase modulator driver configured to apply the electric drive signal to the optical phase modulator, the electric drive signal having a time-varying component oscillating at half the modulation frequency and no time-constant component, thereby imparting the phase shift, modulated at the modulation frequency, to the phase of the input light signal to produce a phase-modulated light signal. Optical phase modulation systems and methods are also disclosed.

Claims26

Dependent claims

An optical phase modulation system, comprising:

a light source assembly configured to emit an input light signal;
an optical phase modulator comprising:
a modulating waveguide section for receiving and supporting propagation of the input light signal, the modulating waveguide section having an effective refractive index that depends linearly on temperature;
and
a resistive heater in thermal contact with the modulating waveguide section;
and
a phase modulator driver configured to apply a drive voltage or electric current having a time-varying component oscillating at half the modulation frequency and no time-constant component to the resistive heater to generate heat that is transferred into the modulating waveguide section, thereby changing the effective refractive index, and in turn, the phase of the input light signal propagating therealong to produce a phase-modulated light signal modulated at the modulation frequency.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and System for Optical Phase Modulation with Reduced Harmonic Content

Life of this patent

Method and System for Optical Phase Modulation with Reduced Harmonic Content

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26