Monolithically integrated eight-channel WDM modulator with narrow channel spacing and high throughput

We demonstrate an eight-channel wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) modulator module that monolithically integrates arrayed waveguide gratings and semiconductor optical amplifiers and electroabsorption optical modulators arrays. The compact module can generate individual optical signals for each WDM channel with low optical and electrical crosstalk. We show two configurations for the narrow channel spacing of 25 GHz and high throughput of beyond 80 Gb/s. Combining this WDM modulator with a multi-wavelength light source is a promising approach to creating a compact WDM optical transmitter.

I. Introduction

Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems promise to enlarge system throughput and provide a variety of wavelength functions, such as optical path switching by wavelength labels. In advanced WDM systems, a large number of wavelength channels are packed into an optical fiber with narrow channel spacing, which is called a dense-WDM (DWDM) system. High-throughput operation is also required in order to handle large amounts of data traffic.