Interferometric techniques for the characterization of the response of temporal modulators

Interferometric techniques to measure the transmission and phase response of temporal modulators are presented. A heterodyne measurement based on two independent monochromatic lasers and a homodyne measurement based on a single monochromatic laser and a 90-degree optical hybrid allowing dual quadrature detection are studied and compared. Experimental implementations of the two techniques are presented and used to measure the amplitude and phase response of an electro-absorption modulator to a drive voltage.