High-Performance Electro-Optical Mach–Zehnder Modulators in a Silicon Nitride–Lithium Niobate Thin-Film Hybrid Platform

We analyzed a Mach–Zehnder electro-optical modulator based on a silicon nitride strip–loaded waveguide on 0.5 μm thick x-cut lithium niobate thin film. The optical and radio frequency parameters for two different modulator structures (Type I: packaged with 2 μm thick SiO<sub>2</sub> and...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Huangpu Han, Fan Yang, Chenghao Liu, Zhengfang Wang, Yunpeng Jiang, Guangyue Chai, Shuangchen Ruan, Bingxi Xiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-07-01
Series:Photonics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/9/7/500
Description
Summary:We analyzed a Mach–Zehnder electro-optical modulator based on a silicon nitride strip–loaded waveguide on 0.5 μm thick x-cut lithium niobate thin film. The optical and radio frequency parameters for two different modulator structures (Type I: packaged with 2 μm thick SiO<sub>2</sub> and Type II: unpackaged) were simulated, calculated, and optimized. The Optical parameters included the single-mode conditions, effective indices, the separation distance between the electrode edge and the Si<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>-strip-loaded edge, optical power distribution, bending loss, optical field distribution, and half-wave voltage. The radio frequency parameters included the characteristic impedance, attenuation constant, radio frequency effective index, and −3 dB modulation bandwidth. According to the numerical simulation and theoretical analysis, the half-wave voltage product and the −3 dB modulation bandwidth were, respectively, 2.85 V·cm and 0.4 THz for Type I modulator, and 2.33 V·cm and 1.26 THz for Type II modulator, with a device length of 3 mm.
ISSN:2304-6732