Optically controlled semiconductor microwave modulator with nanosecond response

A microwave modulator optically controlled by laser pulses has been theoretically studied, constructed, and tested. Results of numerical simulations performed by the finite-difference method are presented, design parameters are reported, and coincidence between the calculated and experimentally measured characteristics is demonstrated. The switching time of the modulator is about 1 ns, the characteristic energy of control laser pulses sufficient for the optimum switching is 10 mJ, and the range of mechanical tuning of the microwave frequency is about 10% (66–72 GHz). It is experimentally demonstrated that the modulator reliably operates when the control laser radiation parameters vary within broad limits.