Photon-X uses GigOptix’s 100G MZM

PALO ALTO, USA: GigOptix Inc. today announced the use of its 100G LX8900 Mach-Zehnder Modulator (MZM) by Photon-X, LLC, a manufacturer of advanced fiber optic and RF photonic devices and subsystems.

The LX8900 with an optical bandwidth of 65GHz enables customers to modulate a signal’s phase and amplitude at ultra high frequencies in the optical domain.

Existing modulation mechanisms operating at these frequencies suffer from a number of drawbacks including narrow bandwidth and high power dissipation. Moreover, other optical modulator technologies such as Lithium Niobate and Indium Phosphide are not able to perform at these high speeds.

The LX8900, due to the intrinsic properties of the GigOptix’s EO polymer material, is not only able to operate at ultra high frequencies but also provide a broadband response in a small, low power, radiation hard form factor.

The LX8900 and its future derivatives are expected to have applicability in defense and aerospace and be used in phase array radar, antenna remoting, RF beam steering and ultra high frequency signal mixing applications.

"This collaboration with Photon-X is a great opportunity to leverage our technology beyond the high speed optical communications arena into new markets such as wide band RF Photonics in defense and aerospace systems," said Andrea Betti-Berutto, Chief Technical Officer of GigOptix.

“The LX8900 is a unique product in terms of its high speed and broadband operation and it is a great addition to our expanding RF solution portfolio of broadband amplifier devices.”

"GigOptix electro-optic polymer technology provides a very exciting opportunity for us to develop new innovative high speed and wide band products in the RF photonics space,” said Renfeng Gao, Director of Photon-X, LLC. “The LX8900’s bandwidth and performance characteristics are very impressive and we believe will open up a whole new realm of RF photonic applications.”

Samples are available immediately.