title: Seven-bit reconfigurable optical true time delay line based on silicon integration.
abstract: We design, fabricate, and characterize a 7-bit reconfigurable optical true time delay line consisting of Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) switches on the silicon photonics platform. Variable optical attenuators (VOAs) are embedded to suppress the inter-symbol crosstalk caused by the finite extinction ratio of switches. The device can provide a maximum of 1.27 ns delay with a 10 ps resolution over a wide wavelength range. Eye diagram measurement of a 25 Gbps 2(51)-1 pseudo-random bit sequence (PRBS) signal reveals the power penalties only increase 0.17 dB and 0.77 dB after transmission through the shortest (reference) and the longest (1.27 ns delay) paths, respectively.
authors.forename: Jingya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Linjie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Zuxiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jinting
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D007368:Interferometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012031:Refractometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*; D013685:Telecommunications / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D012825:Silicon