Light modulation element, light modulator, light modulation module, light transmission device, and light transmission system

Abstract

To provide a light modulation element including a convex light guide and a segment electrode serving as a modulation electrode, in which the excellent optical characteristics are achieved.SOLUTION: A light modulation element includes a substrate including a multilayer part, a light guide formed of a convex part extending on a light guide layer in the multilayer part of the substrate, and a modulation electrode formed on the light guide layer to control the light wave propagating in the light guide and divided into a plurality of segments along a light propagation direction of the light guide. In all the sections or some sections of the electrodes, distances L of the gaps between the adjacent segments measured along the extending direction of the light guide is constant. A refractive index n1 of a first support layer in contact with a lower surface of the light guide layer, a refractive index n2 of a second support layer in contact with a lower surface of the first support layer, and a refractive index n3 of a third support layer in contact with a lower surface of the second support layer satisfy the relations of n2>n1 and n2>n3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical modulation element, an optical modulator, an optical modulation module, an optical transmitter, and an optical transmission system. [Background technology]

[0002] In high-speed / large-capacity optical fiber communication systems, optical modulators incorporating an optical modulation element as an optical waveguide element are widely used, which consists of an optical waveguide formed on a semiconductor substrate such as InP or a substrate such as LiNbO3 (hereinafter also referred to as LN) having an electro-optic effect, and a control electrode that controls the light wave propagating through the optical waveguide. Among them, optical modulation elements using LN substrates are widely used in high-speed / large-capacity optical fiber communication systems because they can achieve low optical loss and wide-band optical modulation characteristics.

[0003] In recent years, in order to achieve even lower voltage operation and higher speed modulation while miniaturizing the optical modulator itself, optical modulators that use rib-type optical waveguides or ridge-type optical waveguides (hereinafter collectively referred to as convex optical waveguides) that are constructed by forming strip-shaped convex portions on the surface of a thin-film (or thin-plate) LN substrate (for example, a thickness of 20 μm or less) are being put into practical use in order to further strengthen the interaction between the signal electric field and the guided light in the substrate.

[0004] In recent years, it has been proposed to use a so-called segment electrode, which is a coplanar type modulation electrode divided into multiple segments along the light propagation direction of the optical waveguide, to achieve impedance matching between the modulation electrode and the drive circuit and velocity matching between the propagation velocity of high frequency waves in the modulation electrode and the light propagation velocity in the optical waveguide (Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-148652 A JP 2016-194544 A JP 2020-181173 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The inventors of the present invention have discovered that a convex optical waveguide provided with segment electrodes as modulation electrodes has a problem in that optical characteristics such as the modulation extinction ratio vary even if the convex portions (i.e., ribs or ridges) that make up the optical waveguide are formed with high precision in a wafer process. The cause of this problem and a solution to it had not been discovered for a long time.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to realize good optical characteristics in an optical modulation element that uses a convex optical waveguide and segment electrodes as modulation electrodes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is an optical modulation element including: a substrate including a multilayer portion configured into multiple layers; an optical waveguide formed of convex portions extending on an optical waveguide layer in the multilayer portion of the substrate; and an electrode formed on the optical waveguide layer to control light waves propagating through the optical waveguide, the electrode being a modulation electrode formed by dividing the electrode into a plurality of segments along the propagation direction of light in the optical waveguide, wherein a distance L measured in the extension direction of the optical waveguide between gaps between adjacent segments is constant in all sections of the electrode or in sections excluding a portion thereof, and the multilayer portion of the substrate includes the optical waveguide layer, a first support layer in contact with a lower surface of the optical waveguide layer, a second support layer in contact with a lower surface of the first support layer, and a third support layer in contact with a lower surface of the second support layer, and a refractive index n1 of the first support layer, a refractive index n2 of the second support layer, and a refractive index n3 of the third support layer satisfy the relationship n2>n1 and n2>n3. According to another aspect of the present invention, the modulating electrode is formed by dividing it into a plurality of segments of the same length, and the gap distance L between adjacent segments measured in the extending direction of the optical waveguide satisfies the relationship L>4×λ / n1, where λ is the wavelength of the light wave propagating through the optical waveguide and n1 is the refractive index of the first support layer. According to another aspect of the present invention, the thickness t1 of the first support layer satisfies the relationship t1<10×λ / n1, where λ is the wavelength of the light wave propagating through the optical waveguide and n1 is the refractive index of the first support layer. According to another aspect of the present invention, the refractive index n2 and thickness t2 of the second support layer have the relationship t2>t0 and n2>n0 with respect to the refractive index n0 and thickness t0 of the optical waveguide layer. According to another aspect of the present invention, the refractive index n1 of the first support layer, the refractive index n2 of the second support layer, and the refractive index n3 of the third support layer have a relationship of (n2-n3)<(n2-n1). According to another aspect of the present invention, a light absorbing material that absorbs light in the wavelength range of the light wave propagating through the optical waveguide is disposed on at least a part of the end face of the substrate. According to another aspect of the present invention, the light absorbing material is a carbon material, a black resin, or a metal filler. According to another aspect of the present invention, the substrate is formed by stacking a plurality of plates, each of which includes one or two adjacent layers of the optical waveguide layer, the first support layer, the second support layer, and the third support layer. Another aspect of the present invention is an optical modulator comprising any one of the optical modulation elements described above, a housing that houses the optical modulation element, an optical fiber that inputs light to the optical modulation element, and an optical fiber that guides the light output by the optical modulation element to the outside of the housing. Another aspect of the present invention is an optical modulation module comprising any one of the optical modulation elements described above, a housing that houses the optical modulation element, an optical fiber that inputs light to the optical modulation element, an optical fiber that guides light output by the optical modulation element to the outside of the housing, and a drive circuit that drives the optical modulation element. Another aspect of the present invention is an optical transmission device comprising the optical modulator or the optical modulation module, and an electronic circuit that generates an electrical signal for causing the optical modulation element to perform a modulation operation. Another aspect of the present invention is an optical transmission system including the optical transmitter and an optical fiber transmission line that transmits output light from the optical modulation element. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize good optical characteristics in an optical modulation element that uses a convex optical waveguide and segment electrodes as modulation electrodes. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an optical modulator using an optical modulation element according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a light modulation element according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a side view of the light modulation element shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a modulation section of the light modulation element shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 5] 5 is a VV cross-sectional view of the modulation section shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a light modulation element according to a first modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a side view of a light modulation element according to a second modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a light modulation element according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a side view of the light modulation element shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a light modulation element according to a modified example of the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an optical modulation module according to a third embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an optical transmitting device according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an optical transmission system according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of a conventional light modulation element. [Figure 15] 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XV-XV of the conventional optical modulation element shown in FIG. [Figure 16] 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XVI-XVI of the conventional light modulation element shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The inventors of the present invention have conducted extensive research into the variations in the optical characteristics of a convex optical waveguide provided with segment electrodes as modulation electrodes, and have discovered that the cause of these variations is interference of leaked light from the convex optical waveguide at the positions of the gaps between the segments (each part of the electrode divided at regular intervals) that make up the segment electrode.

[0012] Figures 14, 15, and 16 are explanatory diagrams for explaining the causes of the variations in the optical characteristics in conventional optical modulation elements. Figure 14 is a plan view of an optical modulation element configured with a convex optical waveguide provided with segment electrodes as modulation electrodes, and Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrows XV-XV of the optical modulation element shown in Figure 14. Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrows XVI-XVI of the optical modulation element shown in Figure 14.

[0013] 14, 15, and 16, a conventional optical modulation element 90 shown as an example has a Mach-Zehnder optical waveguide 92 formed on one main surface (top surface) of an optical substrate 91, which is an LN substrate having a thickness of several μm to several tens of μm, and configured as a convex optical waveguide, and modulation electrodes 93a and 93b for controlling light waves propagating through two arm waveguides 92a and 92b of the Mach-Zehnder optical waveguide 92. The other main surface (bottom surface) of the optical substrate 91 is bonded to a support substrate 94 (see FIGS. 15 and 16). The support substrate 94 is generally made of a material having a lower refractive index than the optical substrate 91, such as a glass plate.

[0014] The modulating electrode 93a has a hot electrode 93a1 and a ground electrode 93a2 that face each other across the arm waveguide 92a in the main surface of the optical substrate 91. Similarly, the modulating electrode 93b has a hot electrode 93b1 and a ground electrode 93b2 that face each other across the arm waveguide 92b in the main surface of the optical substrate 91.

[0015] The modulating electrodes 93a and 93b are configured as segment electrodes divided into a plurality of portions along the light propagation direction of the arm waveguides 92a and 92b. Specifically, the hot electrode 93a1 and the ground electrode 93a2 constituting the modulating electrode 93a are each divided into a plurality of portions (segments) of the same length along the light propagation direction of the arm waveguide 92a. Furthermore, the hot electrode 93b1 and the ground electrode 93b2 constituting the modulating electrode 93b are each divided into a plurality of segments of the same length along the light propagation direction of the arm waveguide 92b, with gaps between the segments spaced at regular intervals.

[0016] The segments of the hot electrodes 93a1 and 93b1 are electrically connected to each other by a hot transmission line 96a. The segments of the ground electrode 93a2 are electrically connected to each other by a ground transmission line 96b, and the segments of the ground electrode 93b2 are electrically connected to each other by a ground transmission line 96c. As a result, the hot electrodes 93a1 and 93b1 connected to each other by the hot transmission line 96a, the ground electrode 93a2 connected to the ground transmission line 96b, and the ground electrode 93b2 connected to the ground transmission line 96c together form a coplanar electrode.

[0017] As shown in the XVI-XVI cross-sectional view of FIG. 16, when a high-frequency signal is transmitted to the modulating electrode 93a in the arm waveguide 92a, for example, in a portion where a segment of the hot electrode 93a1 and a segment of the ground electrode 93a2 face each other, an electric field is applied to the arm waveguide 92a, causing the refractive index to change (for example, increase) by Δn from the refractive index na of the optical substrate 91 (substrate refractive index na), whereas in a gap portion where the segments do not face each other, no electric field is applied to the arm waveguide 92a, so the refractive index remains the substrate refractive index na.

[0018] Each of these refractive index unchanged portions occurring at the positions of the gaps where the segments of the modulating electrode 93a aligned along the arm waveguide 92a are not opposed to each other is a refractive index discontinuity (disturbance in refractive index change) along the light propagation direction of the arm waveguide 92a, and is a factor causing light leakage from the arm waveguide 92a.

[0019] The leakage light generated from each of the refractive index unchanged portions lined up along the arm waveguide 92a leaks out into the support substrate 94 having a refractive index nb lower than that of the optical substrate 91, and is repeatedly reflected between the main surfaces of the support substrate 94, where it interferes with and reinforces each other within the support substrate 94 and propagates in the left-right direction in the figure.

[0020] In particular, the segment electrodes serving as the modulating electrodes 93a are generally each divided into hundreds to thousands of segments, and therefore the number of gaps between the segments also amounts to hundreds to thousands. As a result, the number of leaked lights generated from the equally spaced gaps between the segments in the arm waveguide 92a also amounts to hundreds to thousands. These leaked lights interfere with and reinforce each other within the support substrate 94, and this can result in leaked light of a non-negligible intensity within the support substrate 94. The above phenomenon also occurs in the arm waveguide 92b on which the modulating electrode 93b is formed, and the leakage light from the arm waveguide 92b interferes and reinforces itself within the support substrate 94, further increasing the leakage light intensity within the support substrate 94 to a level that cannot be ignored.

[0021] Some of the high-intensity leaked light generated by the interference may enter the arm waveguides 92a, 92b and other parts of the Mach-Zehnder optical waveguide 92 and be coupled with the signal light (or modulated light) propagating through the Mach-Zehnder optical waveguide 92. Such leaked light coupled with the signal light (or modulated light) propagating through the Mach-Zehnder optical waveguide 92 is noise light, which deteriorates the optical characteristics, such as the extinction ratio, of the optical modulation operation in the Mach-Zehnder optical waveguide 92, causing variations in the optical characteristics.

[0022] The present invention has been made based on knowledge about the causes of the variations in optical characteristics as described above, and in particular, it suppresses interference between leaked light beams within the support substrate, suppresses an increase in the intensity of the leaked light due to such interference, and reduces variations in optical characteristics during optical modulation operation.

[0023] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [1. First embodiment] First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an optical modulator 2 using an optical modulation element 1a according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The optical modulator 2 has the optical modulation element 1a and a relay substrate 4 inside a housing 3. The optical modulation element 1a has, for example, a DP-QPSK modulator configuration. A plate-shaped cover (not shown) is finally fixed to the opening of the housing 3, and the interior thereof is hermetically sealed.

[0024] The optical modulator 2 also has a signal pin 5a for inputting a high-frequency electrical signal used to modulate the optical modulation element 1a, and a signal pin 5b for inputting an electrical signal used to adjust the operating point of the optical modulation element 1a, etc.

[0025] Furthermore, the optical modulator 2 has an input optical fiber 6a for inputting light into the housing 3 and an output optical fiber 6b for guiding the light modulated by the optical modulation element 1a to the outside of the housing 3, both on the same surface of the housing 3.

[0026] Here, the input optical fiber 6a and the output optical fiber 6b are fixed to the housing 3 via supports 7a and 7b, which are fixing members. Light input from the input optical fiber 6a is collimated by a lens 8a arranged in the support 7a, and then input to the light modulation element 1a via the lens 8b. However, this is just one example, and light can also be input to the light modulation element 1a according to conventional technology, for example, by introducing the input optical fiber 6a into the housing 3 via the support 7a and connecting the end face of the introduced input optical fiber 6a to the end face of a substrate 20 (described later) of the light modulation element 1a.

[0027] The optical modulator 2 also has an optical unit 9 that polarization-combines the two modulated lights output from the optical modulation elements 1a. The polarization-combined light output from the optical unit 9 is collected by a lens 8c disposed within the support 7b and coupled to the output optical fiber 6b.

[0028] The relay board 4 relays the high-frequency electrical signal input from the signal pin 5a and the electrical signal for adjusting the operating point input from the signal pin 5b to the optical modulation element 1a by a conductor pattern (not shown) formed on the relay board 4. The conductor patterns on the relay board 4 are connected to the electrodes of the optical modulation element 1a by, for example, wire bonding. The optical modulator 2 also includes a terminator 10 having a predetermined impedance inside the housing 3.

[0029] Fig. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of the light modulation element 1a. The light modulation element 1a has a multi-layered substrate 20. The substrate 20 is, for example, rectangular in plan view and has two opposing left and right sides 21a and 21b extending in the vertical direction in Fig. 2, and two opposing top and bottom sides 21c and 21d extending in the horizontal direction in Fig. 2.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a side view of the side 21a of the light modulation element 1a shown in FIG. 2. The substrate 20 includes an optical waveguide layer 22 and a support layer 23. In this embodiment, the support layer 23 includes a first support layer 231 and a second support layer 232. In this embodiment, the substrate 20 is formed by stacking multiple plates, for example. Specifically, the substrate 20 is formed by stacking an optical substrate 24 and a support substrate 25. The optical substrate 24 includes the optical waveguide layer 22, and the support substrate 25 includes a support layer 23 consisting of the first support layer 231 and the second support layer 232. The optical substrate 24 is, for example, an X-cut LN substrate having an electro-optic effect and processed to a thickness of 20 μm or less (e.g., 2 μm). The support substrate 25 is, for example, a glass substrate including a first support layer 231 and a second support layer 232 made of glasses having different materials or compositions.

[0031] It should be noted that the substrate 20 does not necessarily have to be composed of multiple plates as described above. The substrate 20 may be composed of a film formed in layers on an appropriate substrate. For example, the substrate 20 may include a first support layer 231 and an optical waveguide layer 22 formed in layers by a film formation process such as sputtering, vapor deposition, and / or crystal growth on an appropriate plate constituting the second support layer 232.

[0032] The optical modulation element 1a has an optical waveguide 26 (the entirety of the thick dotted line shown in FIG. 2) formed on an optical waveguide layer 22 of a substrate 20 (on an optical substrate 24 in this embodiment). The optical waveguide 26 is a convex optical waveguide (for example, a rib-type optical waveguide or a ridge-type optical waveguide) formed by a convex portion extending on the optical waveguide layer 22, and performs coherent multilevel modulation of, for example, more than 100 GBaud.

[0033] 2, optical waveguide 26 includes an input waveguide 27 that receives input light (indicated by an arrow pointing rightward in the figure) from input optical fiber 6a on the upper side of left side 21a of optical waveguide layer 22 in the figure, and branching waveguide 28 that branches the input light into two light beams having the same light intensity. Optical waveguide 26 also includes so-called nested Mach-Zehnder optical waveguides 29a and 29b as two modulation sections that modulate the respective light beams branched by branching waveguide 28.

[0034] In the nested Mach-Zehnder optical waveguides 29a and 29b, the propagation direction of light is turned back by 180 degrees in a turning region 30 on the right side of the optical waveguide layer 22 in the figure, and the light is output to the left in the figure from the side 21a of the optical waveguide layer 22 by the output waveguides 31a and 31b.

[0035] Each of the nested Mach-Zehnder optical waveguides 29a and 29b includes two Mach-Zehnder optical waveguides 32a and 32b, and two Mach-Zehnder optical waveguides 32c and 32d provided in two waveguide portions forming a pair of arm waveguides. Hereinafter, the Mach-Zehnder optical waveguides 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d will be collectively referred to as Mach-Zehnder optical waveguide 32. Each of the Mach-Zehnder optical waveguides 32 includes two arm waveguides.

[0036] In the illustrated upper portion of the optical waveguide layer 22, a bias electrode 33a for adjusting the operating points of the nested Mach-Zehnder optical waveguides 29a and 29b is formed upstream of the turning region 30 along the propagation direction of the light waves of the optical waveguide 26. In addition, bias electrodes 33b and 33c for adjusting the operating points of the Mach-Zehnder optical waveguides 32a, 32b and 32c, 32d are provided.

[0037] Furthermore, modulation electrodes for causing the four Mach-Zehnder optical waveguides 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d to perform modulation operations are formed in modulation sections 34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d shown in the lower part of the nested Mach-Zehnder optical waveguides 29a and 29b folded back at the folding region 30. Hereinafter, the modulation sections 34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d will also be collectively referred to as modulation section 34.

[0038] High frequency electrical signals for causing each of the Mach-Zehnder optical waveguides 32 to perform a modulation operation are input from the relay substrate 4 via wire bonding 35 on the right side of the figure. These high frequency electrical signals propagate through the modulation electrodes formed in each of the modulation sections 34 and are terminated by termination resistors (not shown) provided in the terminator 10 shown below in the figure.

[0039] To avoid cluttering the drawing and to facilitate understanding, the details of the electrodes formed in the modulation sections 34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d are not shown in Fig. 2. Each of the modulation sections 34 is formed with a segment electrode, which is divided into multiple segments along the propagation direction of light in the optical waveguide, as a modulation electrode, similar to the prior art shown in Fig. 13.

[0040] As an example, the configuration of the modulating electrodes in the modulating section 34a is shown in Fig. 4. The modulating electrodes in the other modulating sections 34b, 34c, and 34d are configured in the same manner as in Fig. 4. In FIG. 4, the modulating electrodes 40a and 40b respectively control the light waves propagating through the arm waveguides 36a1 and 36a2 of the Mach-Zehnder optical waveguide 32a.

[0041] The modulating electrode 40a has a hot electrode 40a1 and a ground electrode 40a2 that face each other with one arm waveguide 36a1 sandwiched between them on the surface of the optical waveguide layer 22. Similarly, the modulating electrode 40b has a hot electrode 40b1 and a ground electrode 40b2 that face each other with the other arm waveguide 36a2 sandwiched between them on the surface of the optical waveguide layer 22.

[0042] The modulating electrodes 40a and 40b are each configured as segment electrodes divided into multiple sections along the light propagation direction of the arm waveguides 36a1 and 36a2. Specifically, the hot electrode 40a1 and the ground electrode 40a2 constituting the modulating electrode 40a are each divided into multiple sections (segments) of the same length along the light propagation direction of the arm waveguide 36a1, with gaps between the segments spaced at regular intervals. The hot electrode 40b1 and the ground electrode 40b2 constituting the modulating electrode 40b are each divided into multiple segments of the same length along the light propagation direction of the arm waveguide 36a2, with gaps between the segments spaced at regular intervals. The number of segments in each of the hot electrodes 40a1 and 40b1 and the ground electrodes 40a2 and 40b2 is, for example, on the order of several thousand. However, the number of segments may be any number depending on the light modulation characteristics desired for the optical modulation element 1a.

[0043] The segments of hot electrodes 40a1 and 40b1 are electrically connected to each other by hot transmission line 41a. The segments of ground electrode 40a2 are electrically connected to each other by ground transmission line 41b, and the segments of ground electrode 40b2 are electrically connected to each other by ground transmission line 41c. As a result, hot electrodes 40a1 and 40b1 connected to each other by hot transmission line 41a, ground electrode 40a2 connected to ground transmission line 41b, and ground electrode 40b2 connected to ground transmission line 41c together form a coplanar electrode.

[0044] Fig. 5 is a VV cross-sectional view taken along the arm waveguide 36a1 in the modulation section 34a shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 5, the lower part (B) shows the configuration of the optical modulation element 1a in the VV cross-section, and the upper part (A) is a graph showing the change in refractive index of the arm waveguide 36a1 in the VV cross-section along the light propagation direction.

[0045] 5A, in the arm waveguide 36a1, similarly to the arm waveguide 92a of the optical modulation element 90 according to the conventional technology shown in FIG. 16, when a high-frequency signal is transmitted to the modulating electrode 40a, an electric field is applied to the arm waveguide 36a1 in a portion where a segment of the hot electrode 40a1 and a segment of the ground electrode 40a2 face each other, and the refractive index changes (for example, increases) by Δn from the refractive index n0 (substrate refractive index n0) of the optical waveguide layer 22 (i.e., the optical substrate 24). In addition, in a gap portion where the segments do not face each other, no electric field is applied to the arm waveguide 36a1, and therefore the refractive index remains the substrate refractive index n0.

[0046] Each of the refractive index unchanged portions (i.e., portions where the refractive index does not change from the substrate refractive index n0) that occur in the gaps in the arm waveguide 36a1 where the segments of the modulation electrode 40a are not opposed to each other is a disturbance in the refractive index change along the light propagation direction of the arm waveguide 36a1. In each of these refractive index disturbance portions, light may leak from the arm waveguide 36a1 formed in the optical waveguide layer 22, as in the optical modulation element 90 according to the prior art described above.

[0047] However, to prevent these leaked lights from spreading into the substrate 20 and interfering with each other, in this embodiment, the support layer 23 included in the substrate 20 is particularly configured with three layers having different refractive indices: a first support layer 231, a second support layer 232, and a third support layer 233. The refractive index n0 of the optical waveguide layer 22 in which the optical waveguide 26 is formed, the refractive index n1 of the first support layer 231, the refractive index n2 of the second support layer 232, and the refractive index n3 of the third support layer 233 have the relationship of the following formula (1). n0>n1, n2>n1, and n2>n3 (1)

[0048] That is, below the optical waveguide layer 22 in which the arm waveguide 36a1 is formed, there is a second support layer 232 with a high refractive index, sandwiching a first support layer 231 with a lower refractive index than the optical waveguide layer 22.

[0049] Moreover, the second support layer 232 having a high refractive index is sandwiched between the first support layer 231 and the third support layer 233 having a low refractive index. Therefore, the second support layer 232 having a high refractive index becomes a layer having a light trapping effect between the first support layer 231 and the third support layer 233 having a low refractive index.

[0050] With the above configuration, leakage light generated from the arm waveguide 36a1 formed in the optical waveguide layer 22 easily passes through the first support layer 231, which has a low refractive index, and some of the leakage light becomes waveguide mode light in the second support layer 232, which has an optical confinement effect, and can propagate through the second support layer 232. This conversion to the waveguide mode can occur randomly, for example, due to disturbances at the interface between the second support layer 232 and another support layer. The coherency of the "leaking light" decreases due to this propagation within the second support layer 232 and the random conversion to the waveguide mode.

[0051] Thereafter, the "leaked light" converted into the waveguide mode of the second support layer 232 may reach the edge of the substrate 20 and be emitted to the outside, for example, from the edge of the substrate 20, depending on the strength of the light confinement effect in the second support layer 232. This allows the "leaked light" to be guided to the outside of the substrate 20 without constructively interfering with each other. In other words, constructive interference between the "leaked light" is suppressed (or prevented).

[0052] The modulating electrode 40b of the arm waveguide 36a2 and the modulating electrodes of the arm waveguides of the Mach-Zehnder optical waveguides 32 in the other modulating sections 34 are configured similarly to the modulating electrode 40a of the arm waveguide 36a1 described above, and similarly to the above, the presence of the second support layer 232 can suppress reinforcement of the leaked light generated in these arm waveguides due to interference between the leaked light.

[0053] Hereinafter, the arm waveguides of the Mach-Zehnder optical waveguide 32, including the arm waveguides 36a1 and 36a2 of the Mach-Zehnder optical waveguide 32a, will be collectively referred to as arm waveguides 36. Furthermore, the modulating electrodes provided in the arm waveguides 36 in each of the modulating sections 34, including the modulating electrodes 40a and 40b provided in the arm waveguides 36a1 and 36a2 in the modulating section 34a, will be collectively referred to as modulating electrodes 40.

[0054] Due to the above-mentioned action, the constructive interference within the support layer 23 of the leaked light generated from the arm waveguides 36 formed in the optical waveguide layer 22 is suppressed. As a result, even if this leaked light reaches the optical waveguide layer 22 again and is multiplexed with the signal light propagating through the optical waveguide 26, the influence of this leaked light on the optical characteristics of the optical modulation element 1a is suppressed to be smaller than that of the conventional optical modulation element 90.

[0055] Here, in order to effectively suppress interference between leaked lights generated in the arm waveguides 36 of the Mach-Zehnder optical waveguide 32 formed in the optical waveguide layer 22 by the above-mentioned action, it may be important to prevent these leaked lights from interfering with each other in the first support layer 231 before they reach the second support layer 232. Specifically, the interference between the leaked lights in the first support layer 231 depends on the interval L between the gaps arranged at regular intervals between the segments constituting the modulating electrode 40 and / or the thickness t1 of the first support layer 231. Here, the interval L between the gaps refers to the distance along the corresponding arm waveguide 36 between the centers of the gaps in the longitudinal direction.

[0056] More specifically, in order to suppress interference between leaked lights within the first support layer 231, the spacing L between the gaps between the segments constituting the modulating electrode 40 preferably satisfies the following formula (2), and more preferably formula (3), in relation to the wavelength λ of the light wave propagating through the optical waveguide 26 and the refractive index n1 of the first support layer 231: L>4×λ / n1 (2) L>10×λ / n1 (3)

[0057] Furthermore, in order to suppress interference between leaked lights within the first support layer 231, the thickness t1 of the first support layer 231 preferably satisfies the following formula (4), and more preferably satisfies formula (5). t1<10×λ / n1 (4) t1<4×λ / n1 (5)

[0058] Furthermore, if the thickness t2 of the second support layer 232 is set too thick, it will have a significant effect on the line impedance of the modulating electrode 40, and therefore it is preferable that the thickness t2 be thinner than the thickness t0 of the optical waveguide 26 of the optical waveguide layer 22. That is, it is preferable that the thickness t2 of the second support layer 232 and the thickness t0 of the optical waveguide 26 of the optical waveguide layer 22 have the relationship of the following formula (6). t2 <t0 (6)

[0059] Furthermore, in order to ensure optical confinement in the second support layer 232 and actively guide leaked light while configuring the second support layer 232 to be thin enough to satisfy formula (6), it is preferable that the refractive index n2 of the second support layer 232 be larger than the refractive index n0 of the optical waveguide layer 22. That is, it is preferable that the refractive index n2 of the second support layer 232 and the refractive index n0 of the optical waveguide layer 22 have the relationship of the following formula (7). n2>n0 (7)

[0060] <First Modification> As a first modification of the optical modulation element 1a, as shown in Fig. 6, the substrate 20 can be configured so that the light confinement effect in the second support layer 232 is weakened, and leaked light from the arm waveguide 36 is converted into a waveguide mode in the second support layer 232, propagates through the second support layer 232, and then becomes a non-guided mode and leaks out to other support layers. This configuration is suitable for cases where a support layer with a large light confinement effect affects a high-frequency electric field, etc. Here, Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of a modification of the substrate 20, corresponding to Fig. 5 showing the configuration of the substrate 20 according to the first embodiment.

[0061] In this case as well, the coherency of the "leaked light" that becomes a non-guided mode and leaks out from the second support layer 232 to the third support layer 233 or the first support layer 231 is reduced as described above, and therefore constructive interference between the leaked lights is unlikely to occur inside the third support layer 233 or the first support layer 231. In other words, in this case as well, the presence of the second support layer 232 suppresses constructive interference between the "leaked light" described above.

[0062] 6, when the substrate 20 is configured so that the optical confinement effect in the second support layer 232 is weakened, that is, when the substrate 20 is configured so that the "leaking light" propagated through the second support layer 232 leaks out again from the second support layer 232, it is preferable that the main direction in which the propagated "leaking light" leaks out is not the first support layer that is closer to the signal light, but the direction in which the propagated "leaking light" leaks out is the more distant third support layer 233. For this purpose, it is preferable that the refractive index n1 of the first support layer 231, the refractive index n2 of the second support layer 232, and the refractive index n3 of the third support layer 233 have the relationship of the following formula (8). (n2-n3)<(n2-n1) (8)

[0063] As a result, the "leaked light" propagated through the second support layer 232 leaks out mainly in the direction of the third support layer 233, and it is possible to prevent the "leaked light" from leaking out in the direction of the first support layer 231 and optically coupling with the optical waveguide 26 of the optical waveguide layer 22. As a result, it is possible to prevent the leaked light from adversely affecting the optical characteristics of the light modulation element 1a.

[0064] As a specific example, the wavelength λ of the light wave propagating through the optical waveguide 26 is 1.55 μm, and the spacing L between the segments constituting the modulating electrode 40 is 50 μm or more and 100 μm or less. The thickness t0 of the optical waveguide 26 portion of the optical waveguide layer 22 is 1 μm or more and 2 μm or less, and the refractive index n0 of the optical waveguide layer 22 at the wavelength λ is 2.2. The first support layer 231 is made of, for example, SiO2, has a thickness t1 of 3 μm, and has a refractive index n1 of 1.48 at the wavelength λ. The second support layer 232 can be made of, for example, a high-refractive-index material such as TiO2 or Ta2O5, or a semiconductor material such as Si or Ge. The thickness t2 of the second support layer 232 is, for example, 0.2 μm or more and 3 μm or less. The refractive index n2 of second support layer 232 at the wavelength λ is 2.35 when made of TiO2, 2.1 when made of Ta2O5 or the like, 3.4 when made of Si, and 4.4 when made of Ge. Furthermore, third support layer 233 is made of glass, for example, with a thickness t3 of 300 μm and a refractive index n3 at the wavelength λ of 1.55.

[0065] In this embodiment and the following embodiments, the distance L between the gaps between adjacent segments of each of the modulating electrodes 40 does not necessarily have to be constant throughout its entire section (i.e., the entirety), as long as the distance L between the gaps between adjacent segments is constant throughout the entire section of the modulating electrode 40 or throughout sections excluding some of the sections. Similarly, the length of each of the segments of each of the modulating electrodes 40 does not necessarily have to be the same throughout its entire section, as long as the length of each segment is constant throughout the entire section of the modulating electrode 40 or throughout sections excluding some of the sections. For example, when the modulating electrode 40 is divided into hundreds to thousands of segments, the length of the segments and / or the distance between the gaps between adjacent segments in one section or multiple sections of the modulating electrode 40 may be different from the length of the segments and / or the distance between the gaps between adjacent segments in other sections.

[0066] <Second Modification> Although the substrate 20 is entirely multi-layered in the first embodiment, it is not necessarily required that the entire substrate 20 be multi-layered. For example, the substrate 20 can achieve the above-described function or effect of suppressing interference of leaked light as long as it is multi-layered at least below the modulation section 34 where the modulation electrodes 40, which are segment electrodes, are formed.

[0067] That is, the substrate 20 includes at least a multilayer portion configured in multiple layers, and the multilayer portion includes an optical waveguide layer 22, a first support layer 231 that is in contact with the underside of the optical waveguide layer 22, a second support layer 232 that is in contact with the underside of the first support layer 231, and a third support layer 233 that is in contact with the underside of the second support layer 232.

[0068] For example, as a second variant, as shown in FIG. 7, the substrate 20 can have a layer structure viewed from the side 21a in which the entire substrate 20 has an optical waveguide layer 22, a first support layer 231, and a third support layer 233, and the second support layer 232 only below the modulation section 34 in which the modulation electrode 40 is formed.

[0069] [2. Second Embodiment] Next, an optical modulation element 1b according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The optical modulation element 1b has a similar configuration to the optical modulation element 1a, but differs in that a light absorbing material is disposed on the end face of the substrate 20. The optical modulation element 1b can be mounted on an optical modulator 2 and used in place of the optical modulation element 1a.

[0070] Fig. 8 is a plan view of light modulation element 1b, which corresponds to the plan view of light modulation element 1a shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a side view of light modulation element 1b as viewed from side 21a, which corresponds to the side view of light modulation element 1a as viewed from side 21a shown in Fig. 3. In Figs. 8 and 9, the same components as those in Figs. 2 and 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in Figs. 2 and 3, and the above-mentioned explanations for Figs. 2 and 3 are to be cited.

[0071] The optical modulation element 1b has a configuration similar to that of the optical modulation element 1a, but a light-absorbing material 43 that absorbs light in the wavelength range of the light wave propagating through the optical waveguide 26 is arranged on at least a part of the end face of the substrate 20. The part where the light-absorbing material 43 is arranged may be, for example, an end face part of the second support layer 232, on which leaked light from the arm waveguide 36, on which the modulation electrode 40, which is a segment electrode, is provided, can propagate. In this embodiment, the light-absorbing material 43 is arranged particularly on the end face part of the second support layer 232, on which the leaked light can reach. Specifically, the light-absorbing material 43 is arranged on the end face part of the second support layer 232, which corresponds to the downstream side along the propagation direction of the light wave propagating through the arm waveguide 36 of the modulation section 34.

[0072] As a result, in the light modulation element 1b, leakage light generated from the arm waveguides 36 of the optical waveguide layer 22 and propagating through the second support layer 232 is absorbed and attenuated by the light absorbing material 43 when it reaches the end face of the second support layer 232. Therefore, of the leakage light propagating through the second support layer 232, the intensity of the leakage light reflected at the end face is weakened, and the influence of this leakage light on the optical characteristics of the light modulation element 1b is more effectively suppressed than in the conventional light modulation element 90.

[0073] 9, the light absorbing material 43 is disposed so as to extend over almost the entire thickness of the substrate 20, but it is sufficient that it is disposed at least on the end surface portion of the second support layer 232. However, by disposing the light absorbing material 43 so as to extend over almost the entire thickness of the substrate 20 as shown in FIG. 9, the leakage light propagating through the first support layer 231 and the third support layer 233 can also be absorbed by the light absorbing material 43, and the influence of this leakage light on the optical characteristics of the light modulation element 1b can be more effectively requested.

[0074] The end face of the substrate 20 on which the light-absorbing material 43 is arranged is positioned so that the material arranged in that portion has little effect on the electrical properties of the modulating electrode 40 or the wave-guiding properties of the optical waveguide 26, and therefore a variety of materials, including metal materials, can be selected as the material for the light-absorbing material 43.

[0075] For example, the light-absorbing material 43 may be a carbon material such as carbon black, a black resin such as cashew oil, or a metal filler such as Ag. These light-absorbing materials 43 may be applied to the end surface of the substrate 20 using an appropriate resin as a binder, and then cured, thereby being disposed on the end surface.

[0076] <Modification> As in the above-described configuration, the light-absorbing material 43 is preferably disposed on the end face portion of the second support layer 232, through which the leaked light from the arm waveguide 36 can propagate, at the end face portion corresponding to the downstream side along the propagation direction of the light wave propagating through the arm waveguide 36 of the modulation section 34.

[0077] Therefore, for example, when the arrangement position of the modulation section 34 in the optical waveguide layer 22 of the substrate 20 is located upstream of the turning-back region 30 along the propagation direction of the light wave in the optical waveguide 26 as shown in FIG. 10 , it is preferable that the light-absorbing material 43 be arranged on the end face portion of the second support layer 232 on the side 21 b located downstream along the propagation direction of the light wave propagating through the arm waveguide 36 of the modulation section 34.

[0078] 3. Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is an optical modulation module 50 using the optical modulation element 1a shown in the first embodiment. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing the configuration of the optical modulation module 50 according to this embodiment. In Fig. 11, the same components as those in the optical modulator 2 according to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1 are indicated by the same reference numerals as those shown in Fig. 1, and the above description of Fig. 1 is incorporated herein.

[0079] 1, the optical modulation module 50 has a similar configuration to the optical modulator 2 shown in Fig. 1, but differs in that it includes a circuit board 51 instead of the relay board 4. The circuit board 51 includes a drive circuit 52. The drive circuit 52 generates a high-frequency electrical signal that drives the optical modulation element 1a based on, for example, a modulation signal supplied from the outside via the signal pin 5a, and outputs the generated high-frequency electrical signal to the optical modulation element 1a.

[0080] The optical modulation module 50 having the above configuration includes the optical modulation element 1a, similar to the optical modulator 2 according to the first embodiment described above. Therefore, similar to the optical modulator 2, the influence of leakage light from the arm waveguide 36 provided with the modulation electrode 40, which is a segment electrode, on the optical characteristics of the optical modulation element 1a can be reduced, thereby realizing good optical modulation operation.

[0081] In this embodiment, the optical modulation module 50 is provided with an optical modulation element 1a as an example, but it may also be provided with an optical modulation element 1b according to the second embodiment, or an optical modulation element according to a modified example of the first embodiment or a modified example of the second embodiment.

[0082] 5. Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is an optical transmission device 55 equipped with the optical modulator 2 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the configuration of the optical transmission device 55 according to this embodiment. This optical transmission device 55 has the optical modulator 2, a light source 56 that inputs light to the optical modulator 2, a modulator driver 57, and a modulation signal generator 58. Note that the optical modulator 2 and the modulator driver 57 can be replaced with the optical modulation module 50 according to the third embodiment. Furthermore, the optical modulator 2 may include the optical modulation element 1b according to the second embodiment, or a modification of the first embodiment or an optical modulation element according to a modification of the second embodiment, instead of the optical modulation element 1a.

[0083] The modulation signal generating unit 58 is an electronic circuit that generates an electrical signal to cause the optical modulator 2 to perform modulation operations. Based on transmission data provided from the outside, the modulation signal generating unit 58 generates a modulation signal, which is a high-frequency signal to cause the optical modulator 2 to perform optical modulation operations in accordance with the modulation data, and outputs the modulation signal to the modulator driving unit 57.

[0084] The modulator driving unit 57 amplifies the modulation signal input from the modulation signal generating unit 58 and outputs four sets of high-frequency electrical signals for driving each of the modulation electrodes 40 provided on the four Mach-Zehnder optical waveguides 32 of the optical modulation element 1a included in the optical modulator 2.

[0085] These high-frequency electrical signals are input to the signal pin 5a of the optical modulator 2 to drive the optical modulation element 1a. As a result, the light output from the light source 56 is modulated, for example, by DP-QPSK by the optical modulator 2, and is output from the optical transmitter 55 as modulated light.

[0086] The optical transmitter 55 uses the optical modulator 2 or the optical modulation module 50 that includes the optical modulation element 1a, 1b, or 1c, and therefore can achieve good modulation characteristics and perform good optical transmission.

[0087] [6. Fifth Embodiment] Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is an optical transmission system 60 using the optical transmitting device 55 according to the fourth embodiment. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of the optical transmission system 60 according to this embodiment. This optical transmission system 60 includes the optical transmitting device 55 according to the fourth embodiment, an optical fiber transmission line 61 that transmits a modulated optical signal that is output light from the optical modulator 2 or optical modulation module 50 included in the optical transmitting device 55, and an optical receiving device 62 that receives the optical signal transmitted by the optical fiber transmission line 61. The optical transmission system 60 transmits an optical signal using the optical transmitting device 55 that uses the optical modulator 2 or optical modulation module 50 that includes the optical modulation element 1a, 1b, or an optical modulation element according to a modification thereof, and therefore has good optical transmission performance.

[0088] 7. Other Embodiments In the first to third embodiments described above, the optical waveguide layer 22 in which the optical waveguide 26 is formed is included in the optical substrate 24, which is an LN substrate, but it does not necessarily have to be made of LN. The optical waveguide layer 22 may also be made of a semiconductor material such as InP.

[0089] In the above-described embodiment, the multi-layered substrate 20 is configured by stacking a plurality of plates. However, this is only an example, and as described above, the substrate 20 may be configured by a film formed in layers on an appropriate substrate.

[0090] In the above-described embodiment, the substrate 20 is formed by laminating the optical substrate 24 as a plate that constitutes the optical waveguide layer 22, and the support substrate 25 as a plate that constitutes the first support layer 231 and the second support layer 232. However, the optical substrate 24 and the support substrate 25 are only examples of the plates that constitute the substrate 20, and the layers included in each of the multiple plates may be distributed arbitrarily. In other words, when the substrate 20 is formed by laminating multiple plates, each of the plates may include one or any number of multiple layers from the multiple support layers such as the optical waveguide layer 22 and the first support layer 231.

[0091] The present invention is not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0092] 8. Configurations Supported by the Above Embodiments The above-described embodiment and modifications support the following configurations.

[0093] an optical modulator including: a substrate including a multilayer portion configured into multiple layers; an optical waveguide formed of convex portions extending on an optical waveguide layer in the multilayer portion of the substrate; and an electrode formed on the optical waveguide layer to control light waves propagating through the optical waveguide, the electrode being divided into a plurality of segments along the propagation direction of light in the optical waveguide; wherein a distance L measured in the extension direction of the optical waveguide between gaps between adjacent segments is constant in all sections of the electrode or in sections excluding a portion thereof; and the multilayer portion of the substrate includes the optical waveguide layer, a first support layer in contact with a lower surface of the optical waveguide layer, a second support layer in contact with a lower surface of the first support layer, and a third support layer in contact with a lower surface of the second support layer, wherein a refractive index n1 of the first support layer, a refractive index n2 of the second support layer, and a refractive index n3 of the third support layer satisfy the relationships n2>n1 and n2>n3. According to the optical modulation element of configuration 1, leaked light from the optical waveguide caused by gaps between segments of the optical modulation electrode, which is a segment electrode formed by dividing it into a plurality of parts along the propagation direction of light in the optical waveguide, can be guided to the second support layer to suppress constructive interference. As a result, the optical modulation element of configuration 1 can reduce the influence of this leaked light on the optical characteristics of the optical modulation element, thereby achieving good optical characteristics.

[0094] (Configuration 2) The optical modulation element described in Configuration 1, wherein the modulating electrode is formed by dividing it into a plurality of segments of the same length, and the spacing L between adjacent segments measured in the extension direction of the optical waveguide satisfies the relationship L>4×λ / n1, where λ is the wavelength of the light wave propagating through the optical waveguide and n1 is the refractive index of the first support layer. According to the light modulation element of configuration 2, constructive interference between leaked lights can be further suppressed, and better optical characteristics can be achieved.

[0095] (Configuration 3) An optical modulation element described in configuration 1 or 2, wherein the thickness t1 of the first support layer satisfies the relationship t1<10×λ / n1, where λ is the wavelength of the light wave propagating through the optical waveguide and n1 is the refractive index of the first support layer. According to the light modulation element of Configuration 3, constructive interference between leaked lights in the first support layer can be suppressed, thereby achieving better optical characteristics.

[0096] (Configuration 4) An optical modulation element described in any one of configurations 1 to 3, wherein the refractive index n2 and thickness t2 of the second support layer have the relationship t2>t0 and n2>n0 with respect to the refractive index n0 and thickness t0 of the optical waveguide layer. According to the optical modulation element of configuration 4, it is possible to effectively guide leakage light from the optical waveguide to the second support layer while preventing the material used in the second support layer from affecting the electrical characteristics of the electrodes formed on the optical waveguide layer.

[0097] (Configuration 5) An optical modulation element described in any one of configurations 1 to 4, wherein the refractive index n1 of the first support layer, the refractive index n2 of the second support layer, and the refractive index n3 of the third support layer have the relationship (n2-n3)<(n2-n1). According to the optical modulation element of Configuration 5, leaked light guided from the optical waveguide to the second support layer can be guided to the third support layer, thereby preventing the leaked light from being coupled with the optical waveguide again.

[0098] (Configuration 6) An optical modulation element according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, wherein a light-absorbing material that absorbs light in the wavelength range of the light wave propagating through the optical waveguide is arranged on at least a portion of the end face of the substrate. According to the optical modulation element of configuration 6, the intensity of the leaked light that reaches the end face of the substrate is reduced by the light-absorbing material arranged on the end face, thereby effectively reducing the influence of the leaked light on the optical characteristics of the optical modulation element, thereby achieving even better optical characteristics.

[0099] (Configuration 7) The light modulation element according to configuration 6, wherein the light absorbing material is a carbon material, a black resin, or a metal filler. According to the light modulation element of Configuration 7, the intensity of the leaked light that reaches the end face of the substrate can be effectively reduced, and even better optical characteristics as a light modulation element can be achieved.

[0100] (Structure 8) An optical modulation element described in any one of structures 1 to 6, wherein the substrate is formed by stacking a plurality of plates, each of which includes one or two adjacent layers of the optical waveguide layer, the first support layer, the second support layer, and the third support layer. According to the optical modulation element of Configuration 8, it is possible to easily form a substrate including an optical waveguide layer in which an optical waveguide is formed and a plurality of support layers.

[0101] (Configuration 9) An optical modulator comprising an optical modulation element according to any one of configurations 1 to 8, a housing that houses the optical modulation element, an optical fiber that inputs light to the optical modulation element, and an optical fiber that guides the light output by the optical modulation element to the outside of the housing. According to the optical modulator of configuration 9, since the optical modulation element of any one of configurations 1 to 8 is used, an optical modulator having good optical characteristics can be realized.

[0102] (Configuration 10) An optical modulation module comprising the optical modulation element according to any one of configurations 1 to 8, and a drive circuit for driving the optical modulation element. According to the optical module of configuration 10, since the optical modulation element of any one of configurations 1 to 8 is used, an optical module having good optical characteristics can be realized.

[0103] (Configuration 11) An optical transmitter comprising the optical modulator according to configuration 9 or the optical modulation module according to configuration 10, and an electronic circuit that generates an electrical signal for causing the optical modulation element to perform a modulation operation. According to the optical transmitter of configuration 11, an optical modulator or an optical modulation module using an optical modulation element of any one of configurations 1 to 8 is used, so that good optical transmission characteristics can be realized.

[0104] (Configuration 12) An optical transmission system including the optical transmitter according to configuration 11, and an optical fiber transmission line for propagating output light from the optical modulation element. According to the optical transmission system of the twelfth configuration, an optical transmitter using an optical modulation element of any one of the first to seventh configurations is used, so that good optical transmission characteristics can be realized. [Explanation of symbols]

[0105] 1a, 1b, 1c, 90...optical modulation element, 2...optical modulator, 3...housing, 4...relay board, 5a, 5b...signal pin, 6a...input optical fiber, 6b...output optical fiber, 7a, 7b...support, 8a, 8b, 8c...lens, 9...optical unit, 10...terminator, 20...substrate, 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d...side, 22...optical waveguide layer, 23...support layer, 23 1...first support layer, 232...second support layer, 233...third support layer, 24, 91...optical substrate, 25, 94...support substrate, 26...optical waveguide, 27...input waveguide, 28...branching waveguide, 29a, 29b...nested Mach-Zehnder optical waveguide, 30...folded region, 31a, 31b...output waveguide, 32, 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d, 92...Mach-Zehnder Optical waveguide, 33a, 33b, 33c... bias electrodes, 34, 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d... modulation section, 35... wire bonding, 36, 36a1, 36a2, 92a, 92b... arm waveguide, 40, 40a, 40b, 93a, 93b... modulation electrodes, 40a1, 40b1, 93a1, 93b1... hot electrodes, 40a2, 40b2, 93 a2, 93b2...ground electrode, 41a, 96a...hot transmission path, 41b, 41c, 96b, 96c...ground transmission path, 43...light absorbing material, 50...optical modulation module, 51...circuit board, 52...drive circuit, 55...optical transmitter, 56...light source, 57...modulator driver, 58...modulation signal generator, 60...optical transmission system, 61...optical fiber transmission path, 62...optical receiver.

Claims

1. a substrate including a multilayer portion configured in multiple layers; an optical waveguide formed by a convex portion extending onto an optical waveguide layer of the multilayer portion of the substrate; a modulation electrode formed on the optical waveguide layer to control a light wave propagating through the optical waveguide, the modulation electrode being divided into a plurality of segments along the propagation direction of light in the optical waveguide; Including, In the entire section of the electrode or in a section excluding a part thereof, the distance L between the gaps between adjacent segments measured in the extending direction of the optical waveguide is constant, the multilayer portion of the substrate includes the optical waveguide layer, a first support layer in contact with a lower surface of the optical waveguide layer, a second support layer in contact with a lower surface of the first support layer, and a third support layer in contact with a lower surface of the second support layer; The refractive index n1 of the first support layer, the refractive index n2 of the second support layer, and the refractive index n3 of the third support layer are n2>n1 and n2>n3 have a relationship of Light modulation element.

2. The modulating electrode is formed by dividing it into a plurality of segments having the same length, The spacing L between adjacent segments measured in the extending direction of the optical waveguide is expressed as follows, where λ is the wavelength of the light wave propagating through the optical waveguide and n1 is the refractive index of the first support layer: L>4×λ / n1 have a relationship of The light modulation element according to claim 1 .

3. The thickness t1 of the first support layer is expressed as follows, where λ is the wavelength of the light wave propagating through the optical waveguide and n1 is the refractive index of the first support layer: t1<10×λ / n1 have a relationship of The light modulation element according to claim 1 .

4. The refractive index n2 and thickness t2 of the second support layer are related to the refractive index n0 and thickness t0 of the optical waveguide layer, t2<t0 and n2>n0 have a relationship of The light modulation element according to claim 1 .

5. The refractive index n1 of the first support layer, the refractive index n2 of the second support layer, and the refractive index n3 of the third support layer are (n2-n3)<(n2-n1) have a relationship of The light modulation element according to claim 1 .

6. a light-absorbing material that absorbs light in the wavelength range of the light wave propagating through the optical waveguide is disposed on at least a part of the end surface of the substrate; The light modulation element according to claim 1 .

7. The light-absorbing material is a carbon material, a black resin, or a metal filler. The light modulation element according to claim 6 .

8. the substrate is formed by stacking a plurality of plates, Each of the plates includes one or two adjacent layers selected from the optical waveguide layer, the first support layer, the second support layer, and the third support layer. The light modulation element according to claim 1 .

9. The light modulation element according to claim 1; a housing that houses the light modulation element; an optical fiber for inputting light to the optical modulation element; an optical fiber that guides the light output from the optical modulation element to the outside of the housing; An optical modulator comprising:

10. The light modulation element according to claim 1; a drive circuit for driving the light modulation element; An optical modulation module comprising:

11. an optical modulator according to claim 9 or an optical modulation module according to claim 10; an electronic circuit for generating an electrical signal for causing the optical modulation element to perform a modulation operation; An optical transmitting device comprising:

12. 12. An optical transmission system comprising: the optical transmitter according to claim 11; and an optical fiber transmission line for propagating output light from the optical modulation element.

Images