electronictooptical

Electronic-to-optical conversion refers to the process of converting electrical signals into optical signals for transmission or processing in optical form. This conversion is performed by devices called transmitters and is central to optical communications, sensing, and displays. The key goal is to preserve signal integrity while enabling low-loss transmission over optical media such as fiber or free-space links.

Methods range from direct modulation, where a light source such as a laser diode or LED is driven directly by the electrical signal, to external modulation, where the light is produced by a constant source and its intensity or phase is modulated by a separate optical modulator. Direct modulation is simple and compact but can suffer from limited high-frequency performance and chirp. External modulators, including electro-optic Mach-Zehnder modulators and lithium niobate devices, offer higher bandwidth and better signal control at the cost of added components and power.

Key performance factors include modulation bandwidth, extinction ratio, insertion loss, drive voltage, chirp, and temperature stability. The electronics interface, impedance matching, and bias control also impact end-to-end performance. Integration with photonic integrated circuits and silicon photonics is advancing compact, high-volume E/O transmitters.

Applications are widespread, including fiber-optic communication systems, data-center interconnects, and optical sensors. The term is often contrasted with optical-to-electronic conversion (O/E) required for receiver circuits. Ongoing research seeks higher speed, lower power, and better integration.