Acousto-optic frequency modulator

TL;DR

This paper introduces a monolithic silicon acousto-optic frequency modulator operating at 1.09GHz, enabling efficient frequency modulation of a laser source to generate multiple closely spaced laser lines for high data rate optical communication.

Contribution

The paper presents the first demonstration of a silicon-based acousto-optic frequency modulator operating at gigahertz frequencies.

Findings

Achieved frequency modulation at 1.09GHz

Generated sidebands spaced by 0.009nm

Demonstrated modulation of a 1564nm laser

Abstract

Frequency modulation of a continuous wave laser source enables generation of photons at multiple frequencies from a single pump laser. Such multiple closely spaced laser lines are important for high data rate QAM in dense-WDM networks. In this paper we present a monolithic silicon acousto-optic frequency modulator (AOFM) operating at 1.09GHz. We demonstrate frequency modulation of a 1564nm wavelength pump laser, resulting in generation of sideband laser lines spaced by 0.009nm.