Transversely tapered hybrid electro-optic polymer/sol-gel Mach–Zehnder waveguide modulators

• DOI: 10.1063/1.2927489
• Publication Date: 2008-05-16T02:15:58Z
• Authors: Y. Enami; D. Mathine; C. T. DeRose; R. A. Norwood; J. Luo; A. K.-Y. Jen; N. Peyghambarian
• Keywords: Waveguide

We show results of a proposed hybrid modulator structure that reduces both the optical loss and half wave voltage (Vπ). A sol-gel waveguide core transversely sandwiched between two Mach–Zehnder arms electro-optic (EO) polymer cores enables an adiabatic transverse transition EO without need for Y branches. The undercladding thickness is reduced to 3.7μm with negligible further from bottom electrode. modulation Vπ 1.8V at 1550nm demonstrated using guest-host polymer, insertion 13.7dB in magnetic mode.