Progress in High-Speed Electroabsorption Modulated Lasers

The continuous growth of data centers and 5G wideband wireless communication is driving toward an ever increasing demand for short-distance broadband fiber transmission, which has greatly promoted the development of high-speed optoclectronic devices. In short-distance applications, although directly modulated lasers have the advantages of low cost and low power consumption, the modulation bandwidth and transmission distance arc limited by the relaxation oscillation frequency and frequency chirp. On the other hand, an electroabsorption modulated laser (EML) exhibits wide modulation bandwidth and low frequency chirp, thus allowing transmission with higher bit-rate and over longer distance. In this paper, the integration schemes and device structure of EML integrated light source arc discussed. Recent progress in high-speed, high power, and low cost EML devices is summarized. Finally, a prospect for future development of EML is presented.