u2t Photonics offers 70 GHz, 3-dB bandwidth balanced photodetector

Optical component and integrated subsystems developer u2t Photonics AG has unveiled what it asserts is the fastest balanced photodetector on the market. The BPDV3120R supports a 3-dB bandwidth of 70 GHz for use in optical test and measurement instruments as well as development efforts that target 400 Gbps or 1 Tbps via coherent detection.

The new unit builds on the foundation of the company’s previous 40-GHz balanced photodetector. The BPDV3120R features an optical frontend consisting of a monolithic balanced photodetector chip with on-chip biasing that u2t Photonics says has been successfully tested in a systems environment. The coaxial single-ended output can detect up to 64-GBaud polarization diversity x-QAM signals and supports highly reliable results for common mode rejection ratio, linearity, and optical input power, the company adds.

The balanced photodector likely will be used in test and measurement equipment such as optical modulation analyzers, but also could find a place in long-haul transmission systems at data rates of 400 Gbps and beyond, according to the company.

"While 100G coherent systems are being widely deployed today, we can already see that 400-Gbps or even 1-Tbps systems will be required in a few years to support the continued exponential growth of data traffic in mobile and fixed networks," said u2t Photonics CEO Andreas Umbach. "Our 70-GHz balanced photodetector provides one of the key building blocks that will enable systems providers to build and deploy systems operating at 400G per wavelength or higher."

u2t says it has been sampling the BPDV3120R since this past March. Production should begin this June.

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