Electroabsorption modulator packaging for greater than 20-GHz link applications

Efficient, linear, broadband optical modulators are an essential component in wide bandwidth optical links for high fidelity distribution and processing of wideband signals. We discuss the packaging issues and remedies for the packaging of electroabsorption modulators for greater than 20 GHz link applications. The EAM is a waveguide semiconductor quantum well device which we have demonstrated to have a excellent linearity and electrical to optical conversion efficiency. Several important issues require resolution in order to produce a high bandwidth, packaged product. These include temperature control, EAM back-side metallization, attachment of EAM to submount, Product hermeticity, alignment and attachment of input and output fibers to the device at sub- micron tolerances, retaining this alignment over operational temperatures and anticipated vibration environments, and elimination of outgassing materials that may serve as failure initiators to optical facets. This paper addresses these issues.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.