Thin film lithium-containing electro-optic devices having compact tapers

A thin film lithium-containing (TFLC) electro-optic device, comprising:

• a plurality of optical modulators corresponding to a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of optical modulators including at least one electrode and a TFLC waveguide, a portion of each of the least one electrode residing in a modulation region and carrying an electrode signal, the TFLC waveguide including a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, and at least two turns, the first portion being optically coupled with a first waveguide, the second portion being optically coupled with a second waveguide, the at least two turns being between the first portion and the second portion, the third portion being in the modulation region, an optical signal in the third portion being modulated by an electric field generated by the electrode signal, wherein at least a part of at least one of the first portion and the second portion is aligned with the modulation region;
• an electrical interface coupled with the plurality of optical modulators;
• and
• an optical interface coupled with the plurality of optical modulators and configured to be coupled with a plurality of optical fibers;
• wherein the electro-optic device is configured to support optical signals corresponding to at least one of a first transmission of at least 800 Gb/s per optical fiber or a second transmission of at least 700 Gb/s per millimeter of width of the TFLC electro-optic device.

A method for providing a TFLC optical device, comprising:

• providing at least one electrode, a portion of each of the least one electrode residing in a modulation region and carrying an electrode signal;
• and
• providing, from a TFLC layer, a TFLC waveguide including a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the first portion being optically coupled with a first waveguide, the second portion being optically coupled with a second waveguide, the third portion being in the modulation region, an optical signal in the third portion being modulated by an electric field generated by the electrode signal, the TFLC waveguide including a TFLC electro-optic material;
• wherein at least a part of at least one of the first portion and the second portion is aligned with the modulation region.