Integrated-Optic Electric-Field Sensor Utilizing a Ti:LiNbO3 Y-fed Balanced-Bridge Mach-Zehnder Interferometric Modulator With a Segmented Dipole Antenna

Abstract

We have demonstrated a Ti:LiNbO3 electro-optic electric-field sensor utilizing a 1x2 Y-fed balanced-bridge Mach-Zehnder interferometric (YBB-MZI) modulator, which uses a 3-dB directional coupler at the output and has two complementary output waveguides. A de switching voltage of similar to 25 V and an extinction ratio of similar to 12.5 dB are observed at a wavelength of 1.3 mu m. For a 20 dBm rf input power, the minimum detectable electric fields are similar to 8.21, 7.24, and similar to 13.3 V/m, corresponding to dynamic ranges of similar to 10, similar to 12, and similar to 7 dB at frequencies of 10, 30, and 50 MHz respectively. The sensors exhibit almost linear response for an applied electric-field intensity from 0.29 V/m to 29.8 V/m.