| 摘要 |
A broadband single mode optical circuit element such as a Mach-Zender modulator for operation over a range of optical wavelengths. An intermediate waveguide network (38) receives a beam of light from an input waveguide (40) and transmits the beam to an output waveguide (42). The intermediate waveguide network (38) includes at least one and typically two intermediate waveguides (48, 50). The index of refraction of the intermediate waveguides is sufficient to support multiple modes of light over the wavelength range of the circuit element. The input and output waveguides are narrow enough that they each can support only the fundamental mode of light over the optical wavelength range. The waveguides are configured such that no energy is coupled from the fundamental mode to higher order modes throughout the wavelength range. The intermediate waveguides can be configured as desired, for example as a strip loaded waveguide (58) or a buried waveguide (66). <IMAGE>
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