A coplanar integrated optical waveguide electro-optical modulator comprises
a substrate (1) of an electro-optic material, at least two optical
waveguides (41, 42) integrated in the substrate in correspondence of a
surface (71) thereof, and an electrode system (80, 90, 100; 80, 90, 900;
12-15; 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170) arranged on the surface for applying
a modulating electric field to the waveguides suitable for causing a
modulation of a refractive index of the two waveguides in a device
modulation region (50). The waveguides are formed, for at least a section
thereof (411, 421) in the device modulation region, in respective
substrate regions (61, 62) which have electro-optic coefficients of
opposite sign along an axis transversal to the waveguide sections, so that
a modulating electric field of same direction and orientation in the
waveguide sections causes refractive index modulations of opposite sign in
the waveguide sections. Chirp-free coplanar waveguide modulators and
single-drive double coplanar strip modulators can thus be obtained.
