Enhancing the Electrooptic Effect Using Modulation Instability

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel method leveraging modulation instability to significantly amplify the electrooptic effect, enabling low-voltage, high-frequency modulators suitable for terahertz optical interconnects.

Contribution

It proposes a new concept that uses modulation instability to enhance the weak electrooptic effect, demonstrated through simulations showing over 50-fold enhancement.

Findings

Over 50 times enhancement of electrooptic effect at millimeter wave frequencies

Potential for substantial reduction in modulation voltage

Advancement towards high-frequency, low-voltage electrooptic modulators

Abstract

As electronic operating frequencies increase toward the terahertz regime, new electrooptic modulators capable of low-voltage high-frequency operation must be developed to provide the necessary optical interconnects. This letter presents a new concept that exploits modulation instability to enhance the intrinsically weak electrooptic effect, \chi^(2). Simulations demonstrate more than 50 times enhancement of electrooptic effect at millimeter wave frequencies leading to a substantial reduction in the required modulation voltage.