Electro-optic modulators provide the electrical control of the intensity, frequency, and phase of an optical signal. They became an indispensable part of our telecommunication network and largely dictate the achievable data bandwidths. Novel active material platforms and recent advantages in fabrication and processing techniques enabled the next generation of electro-optic modulators featuring significantly improved performance in the relevant device metrics, i.e., modulation efficiency, bandwidth, wavelength range of operation, device footprint, and environmental stability. Here, we overview recent achievements of electro-optic modulation, consider tradeoffs between the performance matrices, and conduct an assessment of electro-optic modulators based on the relevant nanophotonic device configurations and material platforms. We highlight the fundamental limitations and practical challenges for different electro-optic materials employed in photonic and plasmonic device platforms.

中文翻译：

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集成纳米光子学中的 Pockels 调制

电光调制器对光信号的强度、频率和相位进行电气控制。它们成为我们电信网络不可或缺的一部分，并在很大程度上决定了可实现的数据带宽。新型活性材料平台和最近在制造和加工技术方面的优势使下一代电光调制器在相关设备指标（即调制效率、带宽、工作波长范围、设备占地面积和环境稳定性）方面具有显着改进的性能。在这里，我们概述了电光调制的最新成就，考虑了性能矩阵之间的权衡，并根据相关的纳米光子器件配置和材料平台对电光调制器进行了评估。