Abstract

High-speed Mach-Zehnder (MZ) intensity modulators are critical components in long-haul, high-bit-rate optical fiber communications systems at 1.55 µm. Here MZ modulators have a clear advantage over directly modulated injection lasers and external electroabsorption modulators since the wavelength chirp can be tuned in MZs to compensate for fiber dispersion. Although much recent progress has been made in monolithic integration of electroabsorption modulators with lasers, an electrorefractive MZ modulator with optical gain has not yet been reported.

© 1991 Optical Society of America