Mach–Zehnder Modulator Output in Time and Frequency Domain—Calculation and Experimental Confirmation

• DOI: 10.3390/photonics10030337
• Publication Date: 2023-03-21T10:56:48Z
• Authors: Sander Vervoort; Yannick Saalberg; Marcus Wolff
• Keywords: Electro-optic modulator; Lithium tantalate; Modulation (music); Phase shift module

The Mach–Zehnder intensity Modulator (MZM), named after Ludwig Mach and Zehnder, is based on the corresponding interferometer. It splits light into two counter-rotating partial beams, which are later recombined with a controlled phase difference. output of MZM depends difference interferometer paths. This usually adjusted by an electrical voltage applied to Phase Shifter (PS) placed in one arms. For applications wavelength changing, must be accordingly. We derived equations describing frequency domain for case triangular PS (necessary sinusoidal output) compared analytical results measurements. Our setup uses Optical Parametric Oscillator (OPO) tunable from 3.2–3.5 μm as source Lithium Tantalate (LT)-PS MZM’s modulation. novel insights enable new control methods MZMs particularly suited spectroscopic where scanned or otherwise altered.