Novel optical level shifter and self-linearized optical modulator using a quantum well self electro-optic effect device.

We demonstrate an optical level shifter and a modulator whose transmission varies linearly with drive current, both based on a new, negative-feedback mode of operation of the recently- discovered quantum well self electrooptic effect device (SEED). The system is compatible with both laser diodes and low-power semiconductor electronics and is applicable in both analog and digital optical processing. An extension of the system gives inverted, linear modulation of a coherent beam by an incoherent light source.