Optical to microwave conversion in a traveling wave electro-optic polymer based device

François Duport; Chi Thanh Nguyên; Rolland Hierle; Bernard Journet; Patrick Labbé; Joseph Zyss

doi:10.1117/12.646190

23 February 2006 Optical to microwave conversion in a traveling wave electro-optic polymer based device

François Duport, Chi Thanh Nguyên, Rolland Hierle, Bernard Journet, Patrick Labbé, Joseph Zyss

Proceedings Volume 6117, Organic Photonic Materials and Devices VIII; 611712 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.646190
Event: Integrated Optoelectronic Devices 2006, 2006, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

This paper describes the design of an optical to microwave converter. The physical effect used for the conversion is based on the non-linear behavior of an electro-optic polymer material. The microwave frequency is generated by the way of an optical waves mixing process, which means by the frequency difference of two optical waves propagating simultaneously inside an optical waveguide. If one of these optical waves is modulated by an informative signal, the microwave signal will infer the modulation. The converter is designed for working at the 1.55 μm optical telecommunication wavelength. The active waveguide is built with the crosslinked PMMA-DR1 electro-optic copolymer, and the cladding layers are made of NOA material. For the first characterizations there is no need of a master-slave configuration for the sources, and the two optical waves are produced by highly stable and fine tunable lasers. The microwave signal is collected on a strip line which characteristic impedance has to be adapted to the conversion process. Simulations have been conducted showing the feasibility of the method and by matching the velocities of the microwave signal and of the optical signal it is possible to create constructive microwave photonic mixing at more than 60 GHz. To achieve the conversion it is necessary to work with a traveling-wave configuration. Some special test devices have been built for the determination of the NOA material permittivity leading to a precise adjustment of the effective index of both optical and microwave waveguide. From all these measurements it has been possible to design completely the device, which is now under test.

Citation Download Citation

François Duport, Chi Thanh Nguyên, Rolland Hierle, Bernard Journet, Patrick Labbé, and Joseph Zyss "Optical to microwave conversion in a traveling wave electro-optic polymer based device", Proc. SPIE 6117, Organic Photonic Materials and Devices VIII, 611712 (23 February 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.646190

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available