Low voltage ridge guide LiNbO3 Mach-Zehnder modulator

Mach-Zehnder type interferometric (MZI) modulators based on lithium niobate (LiNbO
₃
) are key components in today's optical communication systems. Despite their excellent properties, future optical networks will require devices of lower drive voltage and even higher bandwidth capability (40 GHz or higher). In particular, values of V
_pi
les2 V would allow using much cheaper driving electronics. This was our motivation to develop MZI modulators with two novel characteristics: the whole interferometer including Y-junctions consists of low loss ridge waveguides of strong light confinement, a special electrode structure - designed for high bandwidth operation - enables low drive voltages.