Reduction of modulator non-linearities with independent bias angle control

摘要

An electro-optical modulating system has a light source for producing a carrier wave. The carrier wave is polarized by a polarizer so as to adjust the power of the carrier wave in transverse electric (TE) polarization mode and in transverse magnetic (TM) polarization mode. In addition to a polarizer the electro optical modulating includes at least one set of electrodes for adjusting phase biases of the TE and TM polarization mode components of the carrier wave. The electrodes allow independent control of the phase biases of the respective TE polarization mode components and TM polarization mode components. Multiple sets of electrodes for adjusting the phase biases may be used. A modulating means is also included for modulating the carrier wave so as to encode information. The modulating system preferably also includes an interferometric modulator comprised of at least two branches. The modulation and phase bias adjustment take place on both of the respect branches.