Optical modulator using simultaneous push-pull drive of linear and quadratic electro-optic effects

An electro-optic push-pull modulator, comprising:

• a substrate;
• an electro-optic waveguide having a multiple quantum well (MQW) structure defined about the substrate, the waveguide having a first waveguide arm and a second waveguide arm, optical signals propagating through the waveguide, the optical signals having an optical polarization;
• each waveguide arm exhibiting refractive index changes, which vary quadratically in response to varying electrical fields applied to the waveguide arms substantially perpendicular to the MQW structure;
• and
• an electrode structure disposed about the substrate applying the varying electrical fields to each waveguide arm substantially perpendicular to the MQW structure, the electrode structure inducing opposite refractive index changes in the waveguide arms with an applied modulation voltage for push-pull modulation of the optical signals, the electrode structure biasing the electrical fields about an electrical field having a non-zero magnitude and a direction resulting in greater refractive index changes.

An electro-optic push-pull modulator, comprising:

• a substrate;
• an electro-optic waveguide having a multiple quantum well (MQW) structure defined about the substrate, the waveguide having a crystal axis orientation, the waveguide having a first waveguide arm and a second waveguide arm, optical signals propagating through the waveguide, the optical signals having an optical polarization;
• each waveguide arm exhibiting refractive index changes, which vary quadratically in response to varying electrical fields applied to the waveguide arms substantially perpendicular to the MQW structure;
• each waveguide arm exhibiting further refractive index changes, which vary linearly in response to the varying electrical fields applied to the waveguide arms substantially perpendicular to the MQW structure, the linear response determined by the crystal axis orientation of the waveguide and the optical polarization of the optical signals;
• and
• means for applying the varying electrical fields to each waveguide arm substantially perpendicular to the MQW structure, means for inducing opposite refractive index changes in the waveguide arms with an applied modulation voltage for push-pull modulation of the optical signals, means for biasing the electrical fields about an electrical field having a non-zero magnitude and a direction such that the linearly-varying and quadratically-varying refractive index changes add together.

An electro-optic push-pull modulator, comprising:

• a substrate;
• an electro-optic waveguide having a multiple quantum well (MQW) structure defined about the substrate, the waveguide having a first waveguide arm and a second waveguide arm, optical signals propagating through the waveguide having an optical polarization;
• each waveguide arm exhibiting refractive index changes, which vary quadratically in response to varying electrical fields applied to the waveguide arms substantially perpendicular to the MQW structure;
• and
• means for applying the varying electrical fields to each waveguide arm substantially perpendicular to the MQW structure, means for inducing opposite refractive index changes in the waveguide arms with an applied modulation voltage for push-pull modulation of the optical signals, means for biasing the electrical fields about an electrical field having a non-zero magnitude and a direction resulting in greater refractive index changes.

An electro-optic push-pull modulator, comprising:

• a substrate;
• an electro-optic waveguide defined about the substrate, the waveguide having a crystal axis orientation, the waveguide having a first waveguide arm and a second waveguide arm, optical signals propagating through the waveguide, the optical signals having an optical polarization;
• each waveguide arm exhibiting refractive index changes, which vary quadratically in response to varying electrical fields applied to the waveguide arms and the optical signals have an operating wavelength below the absorption edge of the substrate;
• each waveguide arm exhibiting further refractive index changes, which vary linearly in response to the varying electrical fields applied to the waveguide arms, the linear response determined by the crystal axis orientation of the waveguide and the optical polarization of the optical signals;
• and
• an electrode structure disposed about the substrate applying the varying electrical fields to each waveguide arm, the electrode structure inducing opposite refractive index changes in the waveguide arms with an applied modulation voltage for push-pull modulation of the optical signals, the electrode structure biasing the electrical fields about an electrical field having a non-zero magnitude and a direction such that the linearly-varying and quadratically-varying refractive index changes add together.

An electro-optic push-pull modulator, comprising:

• a substrate;
• an electro-optic waveguide defined about the substrate, the waveguide having a first waveguide arm and a second waveguide arm, optical signals propagating through the waveguide, the optical signals having an optical polarization;
• each waveguide arm exhibiting refractive index changes, which vary quadratically in response to varying electrical fields applied to the waveguide arms and the optical signals have an operating wavelength below the absorption edge of the substrate;
• and
• an electrode structure disposed about the substrate applying the varying electrical fields to each waveguide arm, the electrode structure inducing opposite refractive index changes in the waveguide arms with an applied modulation voltage for push-pull modulation of the optical signals, the electrode structure biasing the electrical fields about an electrical field having a non-zero magnitude and a direction resulting in greater refractive index changes.