The electro-optic modulator is only 1-2cm long and its surface area is about 100 times smaller than traditional ones, the researchers say. It is also offers higher data transmission speeds with data bandwidth tripling from 35GHz to 100GHz, but with less energy consumption and ultra-low optical losses.
Electro-optic modulators convert high-speed electronic signals in computational devices such as computers to optical signals before transmitting them through optical fibres, but the existing and commonly used lithium niobate modulators require a high drive voltage of 3-5V. This is significantly higher than 1V, a voltage provided by a typical CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) circuitry. Hence, an electrical amplifier that makes the whole device bulky, expensive and high energy-consuming is needed.
The researchers believe they have overcome this problem with a