Power balancing effect on the performance of IMPACC modulator under critical coupling (CC), over coupling (OC), and under coupling (UC) conditions at high frequency

Abstract

IMPACC (Interferometric Modulator with Phase-modulating and Cavity-modulating Components) is ultra-linear optical consisting of a phase modulator and a ring resonator on different arms of a Mach Zehnder interferometer (MZI). External control of the RF power split ratio from an input radio frequency (RF) signal into the two separate arms of the interferometer has been shown to add (1) design flexibility, (2) the ability to achieve high spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) of more than 130 dB, when compared to the single-ring RAMZI (Resonator-assisted MZI) and (3) compensate parameter deviation due to manufacturing imperfection. Our previous reports have assumed that the Optical power split ratio of the input optical signal into the two arm of MZI is balanced with a 50:50 split ratio due to the optical splitter or optical coupler. Here, we investigate three issues. First, we report the negative effect of unbalanced power of the input optical signal on the SFDR performance of IMPACC. Second, we utilize the inherent compensate technique of IMPACC to counteract this effect. Third, the power unbalanced effect is reported at high RF modulation frequency (23GHz) for three different conditions of the ring resonator (RR) namely, critical coupling (CC), over coupling (OC), and under coupling (UC). Lastly, we compare the performance of IMPACC to the single-ring RAMZI with traveling-wave electrode design under sub-octave operations.