SLOW-WAVE ELECTRODES ON GAAS FOR INTEGRATED ELECTROOPTIC MODULATORS

Slow-wave electrodes that are suitable for use in integrated-optics, e lectro-optic modulators were fabricated and tested. Measurements of th e microwave indices on a number of these electrodes show that sufficie nt slowing can be obtained to match the velocities of modulating micro waves to optical waves in graded-index AlxGa1-xAs waveguides for a wid e range of mole fraction, x. Calculations based on the measured losses , for integrated-optics, electro-optic modulators in which the velocit y-match condition has been achieved, indicate that devices having opti cal bandwidths >100 GHz should be possible using the electrodes presen ted.