Acronym · Photonics, MEMS & Sensors
MZM (Mach-Zehnder Modulator)
An optical modulator that splits light into two arms, shifts the phase in one arm electrically, then recombines the arms so phase difference becomes intensity modulation.
In silicon the phase shift comes from free-carrier depletion in a pn junction along the waveguide.
- Also known as
- Mach-Zehnder modulator, MZI modulator
- Type
- Acronym
- Domain
- Photonics, MEMS & Sensors, Silicon photonics
Notes
Broadband and thermally tolerant compared with ring modulators, but physically long, which makes it power hungry at high baud rates.
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