Abstract

In an integrated laser Mach-Zehnder modulator (ILMZ), as well as in an integrated laser electroabsorption (EA) modulator (ILM), optical feedback can lead to a high level of frequency chirp and relaxation oscillations, compared to the case of a laser coupled into a discrete external modulator through an optical isolator. To investigate these aspects, in the particular case of the ILMZ, an original model has been developed. Analytical expressions of the frequency modulation (FM) and amplitude modulation (AM) responses of two types (2 \times 1 and 2 \times 2 output couplers) of ILMZ are given by the model, and the direct and indirect contributions to the FM responses are identified. The model can be used in the design and optimization of the ILMZ, aiming at a small optical frequency chirp and small AM perturbation at resonance frequency. Numerical simulation of the small signal response (AM and FM modulations) has been performed for both ILMZ configurations and an ILM. A lower chirp is obtained for the ILMZ compared to the ILM. A high extinction ratio and a low negative effective chirp parameter are predicted at output B of the 2 \times 2 ILMZ, as well as for the \pi-phase-shifted 2 \times 1 ILMZ.

[IEEE ]

Ultralinear heterogeneously integrated ring-assisted Mach–Zehnder interferometer modulator on silicon

Chong Zhang, Paul A. Morton, Jacob B. Khurgin, Jon D. Peters, and John E. Bowers
Optica 3(12) 1483-1488 (2016)

Co-integrated 1.3µm hybrid III-V/silicon tunable laser and silicon Mach-Zehnder modulator operating at 25Gb/s

Thomas Ferrotti, Benjamin Blampey, Christophe Jany, Hélène Duprez, Alain Chantre, Frédéric Boeuf, Christian Seassal, and Badhise Ben Bakir
Opt. Express 24(26) 30379-30401 (2016)

Integration of a high-efficiency Mach-Zehnder modulator with a DFB laser using membrane InP-based devices on a Si photonics platform

Tatsurou Hiraki, Takuma Aihara, Takuro Fujii, Koji Takeda, Yoshiho Maeda, Takaaki Kakitsuka, Tai Tsuchizawa, and Shinji Matsuo
Opt. Express 29(2) 2431-2441 (2021)

Highly linear heterogeneous-integrated Mach-Zehnder interferometer modulators on Si

Chong Zhang, Paul A. Morton, Jacob B. Khurgin, Jon D. Peters, and John E. Bowers
Opt. Express 24(17) 19040-19047 (2016)

30 GHz heterogeneously integrated capacitive InP-on-Si Mach–Zehnder modulators

Torrey Thiessen, Philippe Grosse, Jeremy Da Fonseca, Patricia Billondeau, Bertrand Szelag, Christophe Jany, Joyce k. S. Poon, and Sylvie Menezo
Opt. Express 27(1) 102-109 (2019)