MONOLITHIC WAVE-GUIDE-BASED SMART PIXEL OPERATING AT 120 MB S/

We report on the dynamic operation characteristics of a novel monolith ic waveguide-based smart pixel. In this smart pixel, two surface-norma l optical input beams control an optical output beam propagating in-pl ane through a waveguide modulator. For the operation, only dc biases o f about 5 V are required. We achieve a bit rate in excess of 120 Mb/s and an optical gain of 4.1 with devices of relatively large area. To o btain these figures-of-merit an optical input energy of 1.4 pJ (corres ponding to 1.55 fJ/mu m(2)) is required. The output contrast ratio is as great as 11.8 dB.