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Optical Modulator Bias Control for Analog Fiber Optic Link Applications

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Contract: W31P4Q-08-C-0393
Agency Tracking Number: 06SB2-0286
Amount: $749,895.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: SB062-014
Solicitation Number: 2006.2
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2006
Award Year: 2008
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2008-08-08
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2010-11-22
Small Business Information
8711 148th Ave NE
Redmond, WA 98052
United States
DUNS: 043692487
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Gregory Abbas
 Vice-President
 (425) 869-6784
 greg.abbas@eospace.com
Business Contact
 Chung-Ping Chien
Title: Vice-President
Phone: (425) 702-8612
Email: chung-ping.chien@eospace.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Typically, the electro-optical Mach-Zehnder interferometric intensity modulator is the key optical component that determines the ultimate performance of an externally-modulated high-performance analog RF fiber-optic link. Intrinsically, the device has a symmetric structure and has a transmission peak at zero bias. In order to operate at the maximum linearity quadrature point, the optical symmetry has to be broken and a DC bias voltage needs to be applied and maintained to create a differential 90 degree phase shift between the two arms of the MZ. The spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) of a wideband analog fiber optic link is critically dependent on the accuracy of the bias control. This DC bias point is dependent on a variety of issues such as operating wavelength and polarization crosstalk. Furthermore, lithium niobate exhibits undesirable properties in addition to the desired linear electro-optic effect including pyro-electric, piezo-electric and photo-refractive effects. These other effects can also cause the bias point of the modulator to change. Under this SBIR program, EOSPACE intends to significantly reduce this modulator bias control problem through two paths including both improved device designs and novel electronic feedback bias control techniques.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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