Experimental optimisation of MQW electroabsorptionmodulatorswith up to 40 GHz bandwidths

Three MQW electroabsorption modulator structures made of 7, 13 and 20 wells are reported. The bandwidth is shown to increase linearly with intrinsic region thickness up to 40 GHz, with negligible penalty on the drive voltage which remains at less than 2 V. It is suggested that 100 GHz bandwidth should be reached with low drive voltage.