Improved frequency response measurement method of half-wave voltage for phase modulator

In this paper, the improvement method of the traditional optical spectrum analyzer (OSA) is demonstrated to measure the half-wave voltage of LiNbO₃ phase modulator with low RF driving. Based on calculating the measured powers ratio of the carrier and first-order side band with optical spectrum analyzer (OSA), the phase modulation index is between 0.5 and 1.43 and the voltage of driving signal is lower than 0.796 V, the accurate characterization of the phase modulator is obtained. By using this method, the half-wave voltage of a LiNbO₃ phase modulator had been measured in the frequency range of 26 GHz. And, our experimental results showed a good agreement between the measured data and those provided by the manufacturer in 9 GHz frequency range. It is an accurate and easy method to measure the half-wave voltages of a phase modulators, especially for measuring high the frequency response.