Cascaded uncoupled dual-ring modulator

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that coherently driving two uncoupled silicon ring resonators in the same direction reduces photon circulating time, enhances modulation quality, and enables high-speed operation at 20 Gbps.

Contribution

It introduces a cascaded dual-ring modulator with improved performance by studying inter-ring detuning effects and demonstrating high-speed modulation experimentally.

Findings

Enhanced modulation quality with dual rings

Achieved 20 Gbps data rate with high Q-factor

Demonstrated improved eye diagrams and photon dynamics

Abstract

We demonstrate that by coherent driving two uncoupled rings in same direction, the effective photon circulating time in the dual ring modulator is reduced, with increased modulation quality. The inter-ring detuning dependent photon dynamics, Q-factor, extinction ratio and optical modulation amplitude of two cascaded silicon ring resonators are studied and compared with that of a single ring modulator. Experimentally measured eye diagrams, together with coupled mode theory simulations, demonstrate the enhancement of dual ring configuration at 20 Gbps with a Q ~ 20,000.