Improved Long-Term DC Drift in OH-Reduced Lithium Niobate Optical Intensity Modulators

Long-term dc drift of lithium niobate optical intensity modulators is successfully reduced by exclusion of OH(-)ions from the lithium niobate substrate. In this regard, the titanium-indiffused waveguide is prepared on a commercial OH-free substrate under a dry gas atmosphere.The dc drift measured for these hermetically sealed modulators indicates a possibility for continuous operation over 20 years at 50°C.