Wide bandwidth traveling-wave InGaAsP/InP electroabsorption modulator for millimeter wave applications

Traveling wave electroabsorption modulators (TW-EAMs) can provide large modulation bandwidth and high efficiency features for both analog and digital fiber-optic links. Here, high efficiency TW-EAMs with modulation bandwidths in excess of 40 GHz have been demonstrated. Observing the predicted bandwidth reduction for counter-propagating optical and microwave fields along the waveguide has validated the traveling-wave nature of the modulator.