4 x 53 Gbit/s Electro-Optic Engine With a Surface-Normal Electroabsorption Modulator Array

Short-reach communication systems use electrooptic transmission engines based on low-voltage, wide bandwidth modulators to achieve high capacity and low power operation. Here, we demonstrate, for the first time, integration of a 4-channel array of surface-normal electro-absorption modulators (SNEAMs) with a 4-channel array of electronic drivers with low output voltage (similar to 1.25-1.45 Vpp). We use this 4-channel SNEAMdriver array electro-optic engine to demonstrate 4 x 53 Gbit/s non-return-to-zero on-off-keying transmission across up to 2 km of standard single mode fiber over a broad wavelength range (about 26 nm), the widest band of operation achieved with SNEAMs. Integration of a SNEAM array with a low output voltage driver array, a result that we achieved thanks to the use of SNEAMs that operate with low voltage swings, represents a fundamental milestone toward the realization of optical modules based on SNEAMs.

Automated summary

In this work, we integrate a 4-channel array of surface-normal electro-absorption modulators (SNEAMs) with a 4-channel array of electronic drivers with low output voltage. We demonstrate 4 x 53 Gbit/s non-return-to-zero on-off-keying transmission over 2 km of standard single mode fiber using this integrated SNEAM-driver array electro-optic engine. The integration of a SNEAM array with a low output voltage driver array represents a significant milestone towards optical modules based on SNEAMs.