Generation of high extinction optical pulses by means of LiNbO3 Mach-Zehnder modulators

High extinction optical pulse generation via cw modulation in lithium niobate Mach-Zehnder integrated optical modulators is discussed, and methods for bias point stabilization and pulse shape measurements are presented. Generation of high dynamic extinction (>40 dB) optical pulses by a high static extinction lithium niobate modulator was experimentally demonstrated.