Sub-1 Volt and high-bandwidth visible to near-infrared electro-optic modulators

Journal Article · 26 March 2023 · Nature Communications

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36870-w · OSTI ID:1963518

Renaud, Dylan ; Assumpcao, Daniel Rimoli; Joe, Graham; Shams-Ansari, Amirhassan ; Zhu, Di ; Hu, Yaowen; Sinclair, Neil; Loncar, Marko

Abstract Integrated electro-optic (EO) modulators are fundamental photonics components with utility in domains ranging from digital communications to quantum information processing. At telecommunication wavelengths, thin-film lithium niobate modulators exhibit state-of-the-art performance in voltage-length product ( V _π L ), optical loss, and EO bandwidth. However, applications in optical imaging, optogenetics, and quantum science generally require devices operating in the visible-to-near-infrared (VNIR) wavelength range. Here, we realize VNIR amplitude and phase modulators featuring V _π L ’s of sub-1 V ⋅ cm, low optical loss, and high bandwidth EO response. Our Mach-Zehnder modulators exhibit a V _π L as low as 0.55 V ⋅ cm at 738 nm, on-chip optical loss of ~0.7 dB/cm, and EO bandwidths in excess of 35 GHz. Furthermore, we highlight the opportunities these high-performance modulators offer by demonstrating integrated EO frequency combs operating at VNIR wavelengths, with over 50 lines and tunable spacing, and frequency shifting of pulsed light beyond its intrinsic bandwidth (up to 7x Fourier limit) by an EO shearing method.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 1963518
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 2421589
• Journal Information: Nature Communications, Journal Name: Nature Communications Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 14; ISSN 2041-1723
• Publisher: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English