InP Segmented Mach-Zehnder Modulators with Advanced Electro-Optical Functionalities

Abstract

Resonant segmented Mach-Zehnder modulators which enable DAC functionalities without the use of dedicated components are here presented. The modulators are shown to broaden the bandwidth of an EO transmitter. Error-free modulation of a 56 GBd OOK signal is demonstrated employing electronics with 22 GHz bandwidth only. The modulators are also used to shape the spectrum of an optical signal for Nyquist-space applications. The quality of the spectral shaping is investigated in a dualcarrier 4-PAM 56 GBd scenario with BER measurements.