Electroabsorption optical modulator
Abstract
An electroabsorption modulator incorporates waveguiding regions along the length of the modulator that include quantum wells where at least two of the regions have quantum wells with different bandgaps. In one embodiment of the invention, the regions are arranged such that the quantum wells have bandgaps with decreasing bandgap energy along the length of the modulator from the modulator's input to its output. The bandgap energy of the quantum wells may be decreased in discrete steps or continuously. Advantageously, such an arrangement better distributes the optical absorption as well as the carrier density along the length of the modulator. Further advantageously, the modulator may handle increased optical power as compared with prior art modulators of similar dimensions, which allows for improved link gain when the optical modulator is used in an analog optical communication link.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1410278
- Patent Number(s):
- 9823497
- Application Number:
- 15/095,516
- Assignee:
- National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC (Albuquerque, NM)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G02 - OPTICS G02F - DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS, THE OPTICAL OPERATION OF WHICH IS MODIFIED BY CHANGING THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIUM OF THE DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF THE INTENSITY, COLOUR, PHASE, POLARISATION OR DIRECTION OF LIGHT, e.g. SWITCHING, GATING, MODULATING OR DEMODULATING
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 2016 Apr 11
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 42 ENGINEERING; 47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
Citation Formats
Skogen, Erik J. Electroabsorption optical modulator. United States: N. p., 2017.
Web.
Skogen, Erik J. Electroabsorption optical modulator. United States.
Skogen, Erik J. Tue .
"Electroabsorption optical modulator". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1410278.
@article{osti_1410278,
title = {Electroabsorption optical modulator},
author = {Skogen, Erik J.},
abstractNote = {An electroabsorption modulator incorporates waveguiding regions along the length of the modulator that include quantum wells where at least two of the regions have quantum wells with different bandgaps. In one embodiment of the invention, the regions are arranged such that the quantum wells have bandgaps with decreasing bandgap energy along the length of the modulator from the modulator's input to its output. The bandgap energy of the quantum wells may be decreased in discrete steps or continuously. Advantageously, such an arrangement better distributes the optical absorption as well as the carrier density along the length of the modulator. Further advantageously, the modulator may handle increased optical power as compared with prior art modulators of similar dimensions, which allows for improved link gain when the optical modulator is used in an analog optical communication link.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Nov 21 00:00:00 EST 2017},
month = {Tue Nov 21 00:00:00 EST 2017}
}
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Optical NAND gate
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Variable bandgap modulator for a modulated laser system
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