A method for operating an optical system may include selecting a band gap energy level for an optical waveguide in an electro-optic modulator. The band gap energy level may correspond to a predetermined phase shift efficiency of a waveguide electrode coupled to the optical waveguide. The method may further include generating, across a conductive plane in the electro-optic modulator, a differential voltage that produces a predetermined temperature in a waveguide core of the optical waveguide. The predetermined temperature may correspond to the band gap energy level selected for the optical waveguide. The method may further include transmitting, through the optical waveguide and with a modulating voltage applied by the waveguide electrode, an optical wave to an optical wave combiner. The modulating voltage may produce an amount of phase shift in the optical wave at the predetermined phase shift efficiency.

An optical resonant modulator based on coupling modulation, comprising a resonant structure with an embedded Mach-Zehnder interferometer that is differentially driven to induced amplitude modulation at the output port. The principle of coupling modulation enables high data/baud rates to be achieved in a photonic integrated circuit, e.g. silicon, footprint that is considerably smaller than that of a conventional traveling-wave Mach-Zehnder modulator, in particular by utilizing space saving features, such as ring resonator phase shifters and bend waveguide arms.

An optical modulator element includes first and second optical modulators, an optical input terminal, and a branch coupler. Each of the first and second optical modulators includes a pair of Mach-Zehnder waveguides, a first optical coupler to split rays from the branch coupler into the pair of Mach-Zehnder waveguides, and a second optical coupler to combine rays transmitted through the pair of Mach-Zehnder waveguides. The first and second optical modulators are disposed in such a manner that a traveling direction of rays propagating through the pair of Mach-Zehnder waveguides of the first optical modulator and a traveling direction of rays propagating through the pair of Mach-Zehnder waveguides of the second optical modulator are angled toward each other.

Provided is an optical-waveguide-element module in which a common connecting substrate is used for different optical waveguide elements and deterioration of the propagation characteristics of electrical signals in a curved section of a signal electrode is suppressed. A control electrode in an optical waveguide element is consisted of a signal electrode SL and ground electrodes GD which put the signal electrode therebetween, a connecting substrate is provided with a signal line SL1 (SL2) and ground lines GD1 (GD2) which put the signal line therebetween, the signal electrode and the signal line, and, the ground electrodes and the ground lines are respectively connected to each other using wires (WR1, WR2, and WR20 to WR22) , the control electrode in which a space W1 between the ground electrodes GD at an input end or an output end of the control electrode is wider than a space W2 between the ground lines GD1 (GD2) on the optical waveguide element side in the connecting substrate, has a portion in which the space between the ground electrodes GD forms a space W3 which is narrower than the space W2 in a portion away from the input end or the output end, furthermore, the signal electrode SL in the control electrode has a curved section in a place from the input end or the output end to an operating part in which the control electrode applies an electric field to the optical waveguide, and suppression means (WR20 to WR32) for suppressing generation of a local potential difference between the ground electrodes which put the signal electrode therebetween in the curved section of the signal electrode is provided.

Disclosed herein is a traveling-wave Mach-Zehnder modulator and method of operating same that advantageously exhibits a reduced optical insertion loss as compared with contemporary Mach-Zehnder structures. Such advantage comes at the modest expense of increased modulator length and increased RF loss.

An interface for an optical modulator and the optical modulator are described. The interface includes first and second differential line pairs. The first differential line pair has a first negative line and a first positive line arranged on opposing sides of a first waveguide. The first negative line is on a distal side of the first waveguide relative to a second waveguide. The first positive line is on a proximal side of the first waveguide relative to the second waveguide. The second differential line pair has a second negative line and a second positive line arranged on opposing sides of the second waveguide. The second negative line is on a distal side of the second waveguide relative to the first waveguide. The second positive line is on a proximal side of the second waveguide relative to the first waveguide. The first and second waveguides each include lithium niobate and/or lithium tantalate.

An optical modulator includes: a substrate; a waveguide layer including first and second optical waveguides formed of an electro-optic material film on the substrate to have a ridge shape and to be disposed adjacent to each other; an RF part that applies a modulated signal to the optical waveguides; and a DC part that applies a DC bias to the optical waveguides. The DC part includes: a buffer layer covering at least upper surfaces of the optical waveguides; a first bias electrode opposed to the first optical waveguide through the buffer layer; and a second bias electrode provided adjacent to the first bias electrode. A first DC bias voltage is applied between the first and second bias electrodes. A waveguide layer removal area in which at least part of the waveguide layer is removed is provided at least under an area between the first and second bias electrodes.

An optical modulator includes a waveguide formed of a semiconductor and configured to allow light to propagate therethrough; a first electrode disposed on the waveguide and electrically connected to the waveguide; and a second electrode separated from the waveguide and electrically connected to the waveguide. An edge of the second electrode on a light entry side is located downstream of an edge of the first electrode on the light entry side in a propagation direction of the light.

An optical device has a silicon (Si) substrate, a ground electrode, a lithium niobate (LN) optical waveguide, and a signal electrode. The ground electrode is an electrode that is at ground potential and that is layered on the Si substrate. The LN optical waveguide is an optical waveguide that is formed by a thin film LN substrate that is layered on the ground electrode. The signal electrode is an electrode that is disposed at a position opposite the ground electrode with the LN optical waveguide interposed therebetween and that applies a high-frequency signal.

A first transmission line comprises a first pair of electrodes receiving an electrical drive comprising first and second drive signals, which are loaded by a first series of p-n junctions applying optical phase modulation to respective optical waves propagating over a first section of the first and second optical waveguide arms of an MZI. A second transmission line comprises a second pair of electrodes configured to receive the electrical drive after an electrical signal delay. The second pair of electrodes are loaded by a second series of p-n junctions applying optical phase modulation to the respective optical waves propagating over a second section of the first and second optical waveguide arms after propagation over the first section. An electrode extension structure provides the electrical drive to the second pair of electrodes, and comprises an unloaded transmission line portion imposing the electrical signal delay based on an optical signal delay.