Slow wave electrooptic light modulator apparatus and method
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Date
2001-09-11
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Publisher
United States. Patent and Trademark Office
Abstract
A highly efficient electrooptic means and method of light modulation utilizing slow wave optical propagation is provided. A grating structure (35) integrated with a single mode optical waveguide (32) on an electrooptic substrate (30) induces coupling between forward- and reverse-propagating light waves. This contradirectional coupling leads to a reduction in the optical propagation speed in the forward direction. Electrodes (38a and 38b) are provided for applying an electric field to modulate the light propagating in the waveguide (32) via the linear electrooptic (Pockels) effect. In a preferred embodiment, a modulating radio frequency or microwave signal applied to the electrodes (38a and 38b) propagates in the same direction as the modulated light wave at substantially the same velocity.