GigOptix announces additional shipments of 100G thin film polymer on silicon (TFPS) modulators to customers

PALO ALTO, USA: GigOptix, a leading supplier of electronic and electro-optic semiconductor products for optical communications systems, has made additional shipments of its LX8900, a 100G Thin Film Polymer on Silicon (TFPS) modulator to a number of customers including SA Photonics, an engineering company focused on photonics-based solutions for military applications.

The LX8900 is a serial 100G DPSK (Differential Phase Shift Keying) Mach-Zehnder (MZ) modulator implemented using GigOptix’ proprietary TFPS technology. The device is unique in that it provides optical bandwidth of over 65GHz with low drive voltage.

The LX8900 enables a number of ultra high frequency applications, such as phased array radar, antenna remoting, RF beam steering, and ultra high frequency signal sampling and mixing that are not viable using the other modulator technologies, such as Indium Phosphide and Lithium Niobate. The LX8900’s compact form factor further enables small systems solutions, and its radiation hard design allows it to be used in demanding aerospace applications that would otherwise irreparably damage modulators implemented in other technologies.

Dr. Raluca Dinu, VP and GM of GigOptix Bothell stated: “We are delighted to continue our collaboration with SA Photonics in leveraging our TFPS technology further into the Mil/Aero market. Moreover, with our more recent shipments we are seeing interest for our device from new markets, especially in instrumentation and measurement, since the device’s high bandwidth can enable complex high fidelity signal generation at ultra-high speeds.”

Jim Coward, president of SA Photonics, commented: “GigOptix’ TFPS technology enables SA Photonics to implement high performance RF photonics solutions for our customers. The LX8900 is a unique device in terms of coupling ultra-wide bandwidth with low drive voltage, which has been essential in enabling our next generation solutions.”