• Photonics Research
  • Vol. 10, Issue 10, 2380 (2022)
Yiwen Zhang1, Linbo Shao2、3, Jingwei Yang1, Zhaoxi Chen1, Ke Zhang1, Kam-Man Shum4, Di Zhu2、5、6, Chi Hou Chan1、4, Marko Lončar2, and Cheng Wang1、4、*
Author Affiliations
  • 1Department of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
  • 2John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
  • 3Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA
  • 4State Key Laboratory of Terahertz and Millimeter Waves, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
  • 5Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138634, Singapore
  • 6e-mail:
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    DOI: 10.1364/PRJ.468518 Cite this Article Set citation alerts
    Yiwen Zhang, Linbo Shao, Jingwei Yang, Zhaoxi Chen, Ke Zhang, Kam-Man Shum, Di Zhu, Chi Hou Chan, Marko Lončar, Cheng Wang. Systematic investigation of millimeter-wave optic modulation performance in thin-film lithium niobate[J]. Photonics Research, 2022, 10(10): 2380 Copy Citation Text show less

    Abstract

    Millimeter-wave (mmWave) band (30–300 GHz) is an emerging spectrum range for wireless communication, short-range radar, and sensor applications. mmWave-optic modulators that could efficiently convert mmWave signals into the optical domain are crucial components for long-haul transmission of mmWave signals through optical networks. At these ultrahigh frequencies, however, the modulation performances are highly sensitive to the transmission line loss as well as the velocity- and impedance-matching conditions, while precise measurements and modeling of these parameters are often non-trivial. Here we present a systematic investigation of the mmWave-optic modulation performances of thin-film lithium niobate modulators through theoretical modeling, electrical verifications, and electro-optic measurements at frequencies up to 325 GHz. Based on our experimentally verified model, we demonstrate thin-film lithium niobate mmWave-optic modulators with a measured 3-dB electro-optic bandwidth of 170 GHz and a 6-dB bandwidth of 295 GHz. The device also shows a low RF half-wave voltage of 7.3 V measured at an ultrahigh modulation frequency of 250 GHz. This work provides a comprehensive guideline for the design and characterization of mmWave-optic modulators and paves the way toward future integrated mmWave photonic systems for beyond-5G communication and radar applications.
    m(ω)=|2ZinZin+ZC||(ZC+Z0)F++(ZCZ0)F(ZC+Z0)eγmL+(ZCZ0)eγmL|,

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    EOS21=10log[(1H)2|S21|22·|S21|·cos(βoptμL)+1(ln|S21|)2+(βoptμL)2],

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    βoptμ=ωc(nmno),

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    H=ZCZinZC+Zin,

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    Vπ,RF=Vπ,LF×10EOS21/20.

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    Ps=PcarrierPsideband.

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    Vπ,RF=14πVpPs,

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    Yiwen Zhang, Linbo Shao, Jingwei Yang, Zhaoxi Chen, Ke Zhang, Kam-Man Shum, Di Zhu, Chi Hou Chan, Marko Lončar, Cheng Wang. Systematic investigation of millimeter-wave optic modulation performance in thin-film lithium niobate[J]. Photonics Research, 2022, 10(10): 2380
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