Ultra-fast perovskite electro-optic modulator and multi-band transmission up to 300 Gbit s−1

• Published in: Communications materials 2024-07, Vol.5 (1), p.114-8, Article 114
• Main Authors: Mao, Jiawei, Uemura, Futa, Yazdani, Sahar Alasvand, Yin, Yuexin, Sato, Hiromu, Lu, Guo-Wei, Yokoyama, Shiyoshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 639/301/1005/1007; 639/301/1019/584; 639/624/399; Chemistry and Materials Science; Communications traffic; Data communication; Ferroelectricity; Fiber optics; Lanthanum; Lead zirconate titanates; Materials Science; Optical materials; Optics; Optoelectronic devices; Perovskites; Pulse modulation; Signaling; Thin films; Waveguides
• ISSN: 2662-4443; 2662-4443
• DOI: 10.1038/s43246-024-00558-5

The gap between the performance of optoelectronic components and the demands of fiber-optic communications has narrowed significantly in recent decades. Yet, the expansion of data communications traffic remains substantial, with fiber-link speeds increases anticipated in the near future. Here, we demonstrate an ultra-high-speed electro-optic waveguide modulator constructed using a thin film of lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate with a ferroelectric phase exhibiting a strong Pockels effect. The modulator has a wide optical window; thus, the modulation was demonstrated for 1550 and 1310 nm wavelengths. This device showed electro-optical intensity signaling with line rates of 172 Gbit s −1 , in conjunction with on–off keying modulation; this performance could be increased to 304 Gbit s −1 using four-level pulse modulation. The signaling performance of this modulator was found to be robust, with stable performance at temperatures as high as 100 °C. This technology is expected to have applications in a wide range of classical optoelectronic devices and in quantum science and technology. Advanced fiber-optic communications rely on electro-optic materials with suitable properties. Here a perovskite oxide, lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate, is used to fabricate a waveguide modulator with line rates as high as 304 Gbit/s using four-level pulse modulation.