50 Gb/s hybrid silicon traveling-wave electroabsorption modulator

We have demonstrated a traveling-wave electroabsorption modulator based on the hybrid silicon platform. For a device with a 100 mu m active segment, the small-signal electro/optical response renders a 3 dB bandwidth of around 42 GHz and its modulation efficiency reaches 23 GHz/V. A dynamic extinction ratio of 9.8 dB with a driving voltage swing of only 2 V was demonstrated at a transmission rate of 50 Gb/s. This represents a significant improvement for modulators compatible with integration of silicon-based photonic integrated circuits. (c) 2011 Optical Society of America