Northstar Photonics proposes to mitigate substantially the risk of fabricating phase modulators in thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) that deliver performance suitable for fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) applications. During the base period we propose two design-of-experiments (DOE) efforts. One DOE will evaluate the effects of narrower electrode gaps on key FOG performance criteria such as Residual Intensity Modulation and Frequency Response. The other DOE will evaluate methods for fabricating waveguides in TFLN. During the option period we propose to combine the results of the two DOEs in the base period and fabricate a phase modulator in TFLN. The phase modulator will be evaluated for performance against FOG criteria.
Benefit: A successful execution of this project will yield a phase modulator design in TFLN that meets the stringent requirements for use in FOG applications but also demonstrates a substantial reduction in the half-wave voltage, Vpi, for a given device length. Because of the relationship between Vpi and device length, improved Vpi performance enables either a reduction in device length or a reduction in the power required to run the device. The reduction in modulator SWaP derived from an improvement in Vpi performance will enable more tightly packaged and integrated FOG devices, ultimately leading to more compact and higher performing navigation systems.
Keywords: Phase Modulator, Phase Modulator, TFLN, IFOG, Low-Vpi, IOCA
