GaAs-based polarization modulators for microwave photonic applications

doi:10.1007/s12200-016-0561-z

Front. Optoelectron.

2016, Vol. 9

Issue (3) : 497-507 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12200-016-0561-z

REVIEW ARTICLE

GaAs-based polarization modulators for microwave photonic applications

Yu XIANG,Shilong PAN(

)

Key Laboratory of Radar Imaging and Microwave Photonics, Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 211106, China

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Abstract

GaAs-based polarization modulators (PolMs) exhibit the unique characteristic of simultaneous intensity and complementary phase modulation owing to the linear electro-optic (LEO) effect determined by crystallographic orientations of the device. In this paper, we reviewed the principle of operation, the design and fabrication flows of a GaAs-based PolM. Analytical models are established, from which the features of a PolM are derived and discussed in detail. The recent advances in PolM-based multifunctional systems, in particular the PolM-based optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) are demonstrated with an emphasis on the remarkable development of applications for frequency conversion, tunable microwave photonic filter (MPF), optical frequency comb (OFC), arbitrary waveform generation (AWG) and beamforming. Challenges in practical implementation of the PolM-based systems and their promising future are discussed as well.

Keywords GaAs polarization modulator (PolM) optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) frequency conversion microwave photonics filter (MPF)

Corresponding Author(s): Shilong PAN

Just Accepted Date: 11 January 2016 Online First Date: 18 February 2016 Issue Date: 28 September 2016

Cite this article:

Yu XIANG,Shilong PAN. GaAs-based polarization modulators for microwave photonic applications[J]. Front. Optoelectron., 2016, 9(3): 497-507.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/foe/EN/10.1007/s12200-016-0561-z
https://academic.hep.com.cn/foe/EN/Y2016/V9/I3/497

Fig.1 Calculated cross-sectional intensity of fundamental TE mode at 1.5 mm confined in the GaAs layer

Fig.2 Schematic of a PolM with slow-wave, CPS, TW electrodes

Fig.3 (a) Layer configuration of a typical GaAs-based PolM; (b) definition of the rib waveguide by dry etching; (c) deposition of the metal electrodes by a standard lift-off process

Fig.4 Schematic of a PolM-based frequency-doubling OEO. LD: laser diode, PC: polarization controller, PolM: polarization modulator, PD: photodiode, EA: electric amplifier, EBPF: electric bandpass filter

Fig.5 Schematic of the proposed phased array antenna, in which the optical beamforming network is based on the phase shifter [61]. LD: laser diode, PC: polarization controller, PolM: polarization modulator, OBPF: optical bandpass filter, PD: photodetector

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