High optical power throughput electro-optic polymer modulator fabrication using double-end crosslinked polymer

Abstract

Electrooptic Mach-Zehnder and straight channel modulators integrated with high speed microstrip line electrodes have been fabricated with a double-end crosslinked polymer containing amino-sulfone azobenzene chromophores. The poled double-end crosslinked polymer films exhibited not only a long-term molecular alignment stability at 100°C but also good optical power handling capability at 1 .3 jtm wavelengths. The optical power handling capability of these modulators was tested at 250 mW input optical power and the output was more than 40 mW. The optical power level was compatible with commercial analog transmitters. At a CW peak intensity near 106 W/cm2 inside the waveguide, the double-end crosslinked polymer waveguide modulators exhibited neither observable increase in optical loss nor degradation of nonlinearity during our experiment for over 120 hours. The photochemical stability at 633 nm and 543nm wavelengths was also monitored to simulate the exposure from second-harmonic light of an intense infrared fundamental beam. A stable electrooptic response was observed under 633 nm laser exposure.