Loss Evaluation of Multiple Quantum Well Electroabsorption Modulators

Abstract

Revised method for evaluating the insertion loss of electroabsorption modulators has been proposed and demonstrated using InGaAs/InAlAs multiple quantum well (MQW) modulators. Various losses such as propagation loss, coupling loss and residual loss, and their incident wavelength dependence are estimated quantitatively. As a result, propagation loss including optical confinement factor is 13.3 dB and 9.7 dB for incident light wavelength of 1531.5 nm and 1551.4 nm, respectively, for a 300 μm long MQW modulator with absorption band edge of 1510 nm. Modulation characteristics of MQW modulators for long-haul and high-bit-rate optical fiber transmission systems, as well as absorbed photocurrent spectra, and quantum-confined Stark effect, are also investigated.