Amplitude electro-optical modulation of radiation by sequences of Fabry-Perot resonators

Abstract

In this paper, we considered the method of amplitude electro-optical modulation of radiation using sequences of Fabry-Perot resonators based on the transverse electro-optical effect on the example of lithium niobate LiNbO₃. With this method, it is possible to significantly reduce the voltage of the control electromagnetic field of the electro-optical amplitude modulator operating in the transmission mode of the light beam while maintaining its high efficiency. The reduction of the control voltage is achieved by increasing the number of Fabry-Perot resonators installed in series and the phase shift relative to the extremum of the transmittance function. This method allows to diminish the duration of the received light signals which leads to an increase in the clock frequency while maintaining a high efficiency of the radiation modulation. Diminishing the duration of light signals is achieved by using separate modulation channels of two sequences of electro-optical Fabry-Perot resonators, the first of which works on the transmission and the second one on the reflection. Increasing the clock frequency at the output of the modulator is achieved by summing the signals coming from several modulation channels. It is shown that the value of the control voltage for an amplitude electro-optical modulator based on a sequence of Fabry-Perot resonators made of lithium niobate LiNbO₃, with an operating wavelength of 1.307 microns, can be 4 V in the case when its initial operating point corresponds to the maximum transmittance. The control voltage is 2 V if the initial operating point is shifted in phase relative to the extremum of the transmittance function.