Electroabsorption modulator with two sections

摘要

The invention relates to an electroabsorption modulator (EAM) ( 300 ), comprising a first EAM section ( 302 ) optically coupled to a second EAM section ( 304 ), a transition wavelength in the electroabsorption (EA) spectrum of the first EAM section ( 302 ), at which absorption changes substantially, being different to a transition wavelength in the EA spectrum of the second EAM section ( 304 ). The EAM ( 300 ) compensates for chirp (which is caused by intrinsic absorption effects) by driving the two sections with a signal ( 312 ) generated from a common modulating signal ( 314 ). The driving signal ( 312 ) at the first EAM section ( 302 ) being preferably in anti-phase with the driving signal ( 312 ) at the second EAM section ( 304 ).