High extinction ratio 10 Gbit/s silicon optical modulator

High speed and high extinction ratio silicon optical modulator using carrier depletion is experimentally demonstrated. The phase-shifter is a 1.8 mm-long PIPIN diode which is integrated in a Mach Zehnder interferometer. 8.1 dB Extinction Ratio at 10 Gbit/s is obtained simultaneously with optical loss as low as 6 dB.