Optimizing Design for the Traveling Wave Electrodes in Low-Drive High-Speed Electro-Optic Polymer Modulators

Electro-optic (EO) polymer modulators are very promising in the realization of cost-effective and high-performance optical transmissions. In this article, general strategies and specific designs of the traveling wave electrodes in EO polymer modulators were presented to reduce the modulator drive power while maintaining a broadband response. The optimum device parameters and corresponding conditions were estimated using finite element method based on electrode design. In calculating the results, the comprehensive characteristics of polymer modulator with 1.21 V half-wave voltage and 91 GHz bandwidth was demonstrated with electro-optic interaction length is 20 mm, electro-optic coefficient is 55 pm/V, and operation wavelength is 1.319 μm. These results agree with the 0.8 V half-wave voltage and 30 mm electro-optic interaction length reported in Science. In the five designs presented, a hybrid electrode structure combining CPW and microstrip lines were advanced. The characteristics of this structure are like that of microstrip lines with a single-arm electrode on one arm of the waveguide, but it solves the problem of microstrip to coaxial line transition and corona polarization.