| 摘要 |
An optical modulator having a high stability is provided. In the optical modulator according to the present invention, a phase modulation by an electro-optic effect is made on an optical substrate of an electro-optic material while the setting of an operating point by a thermal-optic effect is made on a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) substrate of quartz, silicon, or the like. Such configuration can suppress the influence of thermal drift or the like because no heat is applied directly to the optical substrate of the electro-optic material. In addition, breakage and warpage of the substrate due to heat are also mitigated. Further, quartz used for the PLC has a low thermal conductivity, approximately one-fifth of that of the LN substrate (approximately 1 W/(m·K)), and therefore, a desired phase difference can be maintained with a low power consumption, and thus, the operating point becomes stabilized.
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