High-frequency, low-crosstalk modulator arrays based on FTC polymersystems

A novel electro-optic polymer Furan TetraCyano Indane (FTC) has been utilised in the fabrication of low V_π, high-speed travelling-wave Mach-Zehnder modulator arrays. The modulators were realised with microstrip transmission lines that were optimised resulting in a line loss of 3.64 dB/cm at 40 GHz. Mach-Zehnder modulators based on this design with 1.6 cm interaction length resulted in devices with V_π<5 V and a reasonably fiat frequency response up to 40 GHz. Electrical crosstalk measurements were also conducted on adjacent modulators separated by 400 μm in a modulator array. Without the implementation of any crosstalk reduction techniques, the measurement results indicated a crosstalk level of <-40 dB in the frequency band between 0 and 40 GHz. These impressive results were a consequence of the low dielectric constant of the polymer material at microwave frequencies and of the small lateral dimensions of the microstrip lines