ZERO CHIRP ASYMMETRIC FABRY-PEROT ELECTROABSORPTION MODULATOR USING COUPLED QUANTUM-WELLS

A zero-chirp asymmetric Fabry-Perot reflection modulator is created by placing coupled quantum wells in the intrinsic region of a reverse-bi ased p-i-n diode asymmetric Fabry-Perot cavity. Unlike single quantum wells which necessarily produce chirping during the switching cycle, t hese coupled quantum wells provide large absorption changes with zero refractive index changes over the entire voltage swing; the resultant cavity structure shows reflectivity changes with zero experimental pha se change over the same voltage range. The tradeoff in reflectivity ch ange required in order to obtain zero chirp is described. This tradeof f is a result of the different switching mechanisms used in coupled qu antum wells versus single quantum wells.