Electrooptic polarization modulation in multielectrode AlxGa1-xAs rib waveguides

A single mode rib waveguide (RWG) polarization modulator is described with a measured extinction ratio ≳27 dB, a power conversion ≈0.99, and a switching voltage of 12.5 V at
\lambda = 1.064 \mu
m. The modulator is based on a modified step
\Delta\beta
-reversal configuration. Contact with CdO and an Au overlay ensures low optical losses (
\lsim1
cm
^-1
) for both polarizations.