100 GHz Bandwidth, 1 Volt Near-infrared Electro-optic Mach-Zehnder Modulator

Abstract

An integrated hybrid thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) electro-optic Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) is shown at near-infrared wavelengths. The design uses TFLN bonded to planarized silicon nitride waveguide circuits, and does not require etching or patterning of TFLN. The push-pull MZM achieves a half-wave voltage length product ($V_\pi L$) of 0.8 V$.$cm at 784 nm. MZM devices with 0.4 cm and 0.8 cm modulation length show a broadband electro-optic response with a 3 dB bandwidth beyond 100 GHz, with the latter showing a bandwidth to half-wave voltage ratio of 100 GHz/V.