Compact silicon photonic Mach-Zehnder modulators for high-energy physics

The characterization of compact non -traveling -wave Mach-Zehnder modulators for optical readout in high-energy physics experiments is reported to provide power -efficient alternatives to conventional traveling -wave devices and a more resilient operation compared to ring modulators. Electro-optical small -signal and large -signal measurements showcase the performances of custom NTW-MZMs designed and fabricated in iSiPP50G IMEC's technology in the framework of INFN's FALAPHEL project. Bit -error -rate results demonstrate their potential suitability for optical links up to 25 Gb/s when equipped with either conventional deep -etched or radiation -hardened shallow -etched free -carrier -based phase shifters.