Thin-film LiNbO3 Modulator Exploration of Aerospace Applications

The traditional lithium niobate modulator, serving as the core component for PSK modulation, is extensively employed in the realm of inter-satellite coherent optical communication. However, due to constraints in weight and size, it is becoming increasingly incompatible with the current trend towards miniaturized and integrated payload designs. Owing to its processing characteristics, the weight and size of the thin-film lithium niobate modulator are only one-third of those of the crystalline lithium niobate modulator with the same performance specifications. This study experimentally examines the performance characteristics of thin-film lithium niobate modulators versus crystal lithium niobate modulators in space environmental adaptability. Results indicate that the thin-film lithium niobate modulators exhibit no significant performance degradation when subjected to a cumulative irradiation dose of 150krad, indicating their suitability for in-orbit applications.