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What is an Optical Intensity Modulator?
An optical intensity modulator is a photonic device that controls the optical power or intensity of a light signal in response to an electrical or optical control signal. It is widely used to encode information onto optical carriers and to generate precisely controlled optical pulses.
Electro-optic intensity modulators commonly use lithium niobate (LiNbO₃) and Mach-Zehnder interferometer architectures to achieve fast and precise modulation.
HOW an Optical Intensity Modulator Works
An optical intensity modulator converts a control signal into controlled variations in the intensity of an optical signal. In an electro-optic Mach-Zehnder modulator, this is achieved by changing the relative phase between two optical paths.
Electrical signal applied
A voltage is applied to electrodes integrated with the electro-optic material.
Phase modulation
The resulting electric field changes the refractive index and therefore the phase of light travelling through each optical path.
Intensity modulation
The two optical paths recombine and interfere. Their relative phase determines whether the output is enhanced or suppressed, converting the electrical signal into controlled optical intensity variations.
