Optical system with band gap tuning

An optical system, comprising:

• an optical wave combiner;
• a first optical waveguide coupled to the optical wave combiner and configured to transmit a first optical wave to the optical wave combiner;
• a waveguide electrode coupled to the first optical waveguide, wherein the waveguide electrode is configured to apply a modulating voltage to the first optical waveguide to produce an amount of phase shift in the first optical wave;
• a second optical waveguide coupled to the optical wave combiner and configured to transmit a second optical wave to the optical wave combiner;
• a conductive plane extending underneath the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide;
• and
• a voltage tap coupled to the conductive plane,
• wherein the voltage tap is configured to generate a first differential voltage across the conductive plane,
• wherein the first differential voltage is configured to produce a first predetermined temperature in a waveguide core of the first optical waveguide, and
• wherein the first predetermined temperature corresponds to a first band gap energy level and a predetermined phase shift efficiency of the waveguide electrode in applying the modulating voltage.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions for operating an optical system, the instructions comprising functionality for:

• selecting a first band gap energy level for a first optical waveguide in an electro-optic modulator, wherein the first band gap energy level corresponds to a predetermined phase shift efficiency of a waveguide electrode coupled to the first optical waveguide;
• generating, across a conductive plane in the electro-optic modulator, a differential voltage that produces a first predetermined temperature in a waveguide core of the first optical waveguide, wherein the first predetermined temperature corresponds to the first band gap energy level selected for the first optical waveguide;
• and
• transmitting, through the first optical waveguide and with a modulating voltage applied by the waveguide electrode, a first optical wave to an optical wave combiner,
• wherein the modulating voltage produces an amount of phase shift in the first optical wave at the predetermined phase shift efficiency.