Abstract

Integrated optical amplitude modulators or switches reported to date are operated with an analog electrical signal(1). However it has been recognized that for some applications, such as data preprocessing aboard spacecrafts, it would be interesting to be able to drive directly this kind of optical element with a digital word. We shall report here the principles of operation of a digitally driven amplitude modulator and describe the experimental results we have obtained.

© 1980 Optical Society of America