World's First 60GHz Reflective Electro-Absorption Modulator Unveiled

Photonic specialists CIP Technologies has released a combined modulation and photo-detection transducer capable of working at up to 60 GHz, which the company claims is a world first. The new reflective electro-absorption modulator (R-EAM) is designed to address the need for a low-insertion-loss, low-drive-voltage optical modulator in applications such as remote antennas and radio-over-fibre.

CIP Technologies believes the product will prove significant to designers interested in the 28GHz LMDS (local multipoint distribution service) band, as well as experimental and research work in bands up to 60GHz. The combination of modulation and photo-detection in a single device means that both up and down links can be duplexed over a single fibre. The device, 60G-R-EAM-1550, has an insertion loss of 3.6 dB and provides digital optical modulation at 50 Gbit/s and RF modulation over its 60GHz bandwidth. It operates across the 1550nm C-band with a low chirp parameter and is intended for use with a laser diode source.