Optical Single-Sideband Modulators and Their Applications

We review our recent work in the implementation of optical single-sideband (OSSB) modulation and in the application of this modulation format to microwave photonics and optical testing systems. We have developed an enhanced OSSB modulator for wide-band operation, the so-called bidirectional OSSB modulator, and a simplification of this scheme for narrow-band applications. These OSSB modulators are based on the use of a standard single-electrode Mach-Zehnder electro-optic modulator (MZ-EOM) and passive fiber-optic components. In both designs, the OSSB operation is shown to be independent of the MZ-EOM bias. Therefore, the optical modulation depth at the output of the device can be enhanced using minimum transmission biasing to provide suppression of the optical carrier. Finally, we demonstrate the application of OSSB modulators to the improvement of microwave/millimeter-wave subcarrier multiplexing fiber-optic links and to narrow-band fiber radio systems. In addition, we analyzed the feasibility and the limitations of an optical vector network analysis technique based on OSSB modulation that can provide sub-picometer wavelength resolution.     

基于双平行马赫曾德调制器的动态可调光载波边带比光单边带调制：理论分析与实验研究

理论分析并实验研究了一种基于双平行马赫曾德调制器(DP-MZM)具有动态光载波边带比(OCSR)调谐能力的光单边带(OSSB) 调制实现方案, 方案利用DP-MZM内部集成的三个独立的调制单元, 分别实现OSSB调制、光载波移相和光信号干涉, 最终, 仅需改变调制器的一个偏置点, 就实现了OCSR的动态调谐, 实验得到了小信号调制(调制系数m=0.2)下, OCSR的可调范围-20.8–23.5 dB. 并分析了OCSR与射频功率之间的对应关系, 通过本方案调谐至最佳的OCSR可提高模拟光链路接收灵敏度. 关键词： 光纤通信 微波光子 光载波边带比 光单边带调制     

Optoelectronic Oscillator Based on Polarization Modulation

Abstract

A polarization modulator together with a polarizer can implement phase modulation, intensity modulation with tunable chirp, and frequency-doubling intensity modulation. If an optical filter is incorporated, frequency-quadrupling and frequency-sextupling intensity modulations and a microwave photonic phase shifter can also be realized. By using a polarization modulator to replace the intensity modulator in an optoelectronic oscillator, various new features are enabled. In this article, an analytical model for the polarization modulator-based systems is established. The recent development in employing polarization modulators for constructing optoelectronic oscillators is discussed. The emerging applications enabled by the polarization modulator-based optoelectronic oscillators and the possible future development are also discussed.     

基于双音外差的电光相位调制器半波电压自校准测量方法

电光相位调制器是光纤通信系统、微波光子系统和相干光通信系统中的关键器件之一. 作为器件本征参数, 电光相位调制器的半波电压通常利用光谱方法和电谱方法进行测量. 光谱方法受到光源线宽和光谱仪分辨率限制, 测量的分辨率较低; 电谱方法则需要光电检测之前将相位调制转换成强度调制, 电谱方法的主要困难在于需要对探测器的不平坦响应进行额外校准. 提出了利用双音外差实现电光相位调制器半波电压自校准测量新方法, 该方法利用双音电光相位调制的边带与移频光载波的外差拍频, 对外差拍频信号进行频谱分析, 获得电光相位调制器的半波电压; 通过设定双音调制信号的频率关系, 克服了探测器光电转换中的不平坦频率响应, 实现了自校准测量. 该方法可扩展探测器和频谱仪的测试频率两倍以上, 节省至少一半的带宽需求. 与光谱测量方法相比, 该方法测试分辨率大幅提高且避免了光源线宽的影响; 与传统电域测量方法相比, 该方法无须额外校准, 无驱动功率和工作波长限制, 且对测试仪器带宽需求降低一半以上. 实验证实了所提方法获得的电光相位调制器半波电压的测量结果与光谱分析法获得的结果一致, 且大幅度地提高了测量范围和分辨率. 该方法提供了非常简单的电光相位调制器微波特性化分析方法, 对其他光电子器件分析也提供了参考.     

Relative Intensity Noise in Optical Single Side Band Systems with Multiple In-Line Amplifiers: Analysis and Validation

This article analyzes and validates through simulation the influence of fiber nonlinearity, dispersion, and loss on the Relative Noise Intensity (RIN) spectrum at fiber output in externally modulated optical single side band (OSSB) systems. The analysis includes the RIN generated by the laser source, the effect of the OSSB modulator, and noise generated by the in-line optical amplifiers. The analysis takes into account conversion between phase noise and intensity noise introduced by fiber transmission. It is shown that, depending on the operating conditions, the system performance may be predominantly affected either by the laser RIN or by the noise generated by the in-line optical amplifiers. The impact of the OSSB modulator can be relevant when the RIN of the system is dominated by the laser noise and should therefore be considered.     

Relative Intensity Noise in Optical Single Side Band Systems with Multiple In-Line Amplifiers: Analysis and Validation

Abstract

This article analyzes and validates through simulation the influence of fiber nonlinearity, dispersion, and loss on the Relative Noise Intensity (RIN) spectrum at fiber output in externally modulated optical single side band (OSSB) systems. The analysis includes the RIN generated by the laser source, the effect of the OSSB modulator, and noise generated by the in-line optical amplifiers. The analysis takes into account conversion between phase noise and intensity noise introduced by fiber transmission. It is shown that, depending on the operating conditions, the system performance may be predominantly affected either by the laser RIN or by the noise generated by the in-line optical amplifiers. The impact of the OSSB modulator can be relevant when the RIN of the system is dominated by the laser noise and should therefore be considered.     

Performance evaluation of N × 40 Gbps CS-RZ and DCS-RZ modulated signals transmitted over single mode fiber based on non-ideal LiNbO<Subscript>3</Subscript> Mach-Zehnder modulators

We investigate the transmission performance of N × 40 Gbps carrier-suppressed return-to-zero (CS-RZ) and duobinary CS-RZ (DCS-RZ) modulated wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signals over the standard single-mode fiber (SSMF) based on non-ideal Mach-Zehnder (MZ) modulators through numerical simulations. In addition to that, the impact on receiver margin related to the residual chirp due to an asymmetry ratio of modulators as well as the effect of the applied chirp of modulators has been studied. As the asymmetry ratio of modulators is increased, dispersion penalties are increased asymmetrically at around the zero dispersion wavelength for the CS-RZ format. The DCS-RZ modulation format has a symmetric behavior due to different characteristics of the residual chirp of modulators. The receiver margin for the DCS-RZ modulation format is larger than the CS-RZ modulation format above the asymmetry ratio of 0.82 of modulators (extinction ratio of 20 dB) with the optimal Δλ_DCF. By controlling the negative/positive applied chirp of the first/second modulator, dispersion penalties can be reduced for both the CS-RZ and DCS-RZ formats. In the DCS-RZ format compared to the CS-RZ format, the effect of the applied chirp of the first modulator is more dominant than that of the second modulator. The simulation results show that the receiver margin is limited by the asymmetry ratio of modulators as well as a deviated wavelength from the zero dispersion wavelength of dispersion compensating fibers (DCF) in order to be fully post-compensated. Dispersion penalties can be reduced with appropriate chirp parameters of two non-ideal modulators.     

应用于ROF系统中的单边带调制微波毫米波生成技术研究

介绍了单边带调制微波毫米波生成技术研究的背景及意义,综述了几种主要的单边带调制微波毫米波生成技术方案,包括移相法、滤波法、非线性效应法,以及在此基础上的改进方法,如应用于ROF系统中基于谐波抑制的新型单边带调制方案、应用超窄双传输峰光纤光栅实现光学单边带调制等。还介绍了两种新型单边带调制生成微波毫米波技术,包括基于极性反转电光调制器的单边带调制技术以及新型光学注入锁定单边带调制实验系统     

双音调制下星上微波光子系统的交调失真分析

马赫-曾德尔调制器的非线性会严重恶化星上微波光子系统的性能。建立了包括光源、马赫-曾德尔调制器和光电探测器的双音调制理论模型,利用傅里叶级数展开、傅里叶变换和Gegenbauer加法定理,推导出了调制器非线性失真的严格通用解析解。根据该解析解,可精确地预计不同调制方式下星上微波光子系统的非线性失真,优化系统性能。分析结果表明,双边带和单边带调制条件下,将调制器输出信号保留至二次谐波能较好地近似计算三阶交调失真比和三阶交调截点,三阶交调失真比随调制系数的增大先增大后减小。当调制系数小于1.4674时,单边带调制三阶交调失真比至少比双边带调制小6dB,适合于星上微波光子系统的应用。     

基于插入损耗的光纤信号调制器

基于光纤连接的横向偏移造成的插入损耗研制了一种的新型的光纤信号光调制器。调节对接光纤的横向偏移,可以调节对接光纤间的光耦合效率,利用调制信号调制横向偏移可实现对光纤传输光信号的调制。实验中,将调制电信号放大并加载于压电陶瓷使其振荡,由此控制对接光纤的横向偏移与调制信号同步变化,实现了对下一级光纤输出端光强的调制。这种光纤信号调制器主要针对光的振幅调制,实验中获得调制度优于95%,信噪比约为20dB,带宽约为200kHz。具有价格低廉、调制度高的特点,可应用于光纤传输信号的调制及信号斩波等。     

液芯光纤中基于多线抽运调制的带宽可控平顶布里渊增益谱

提出在CS₂/CCl₄混合介质液芯光纤中利用多线抽运调制 技术实现带宽可控平顶布里渊增益谱的方法, 理论研究了抽运光谱线间距、谱线强度和芯液介质混合比对布里渊增益谱的影响, 得到了带宽可控平顶增益谱的条件. 结果表明, 采用一个强度或相位调制器, 基于单频和多频调制技术产生2–9条抽运光谱线, 通过控制谱线间距和各谱线强度比, 并改变CS₂体积分数, 获得了增益带宽在50 MHz–2 GHz 范围内可控的平顶增益谱. 该方法操作简便、带宽调控范围大, 可用于高增益低畸变布里渊放大, 满足微弱光信号探测和慢光系统的应用需求. 关键词： 受激布里渊散射 布里渊增益谱 多线抽运调制 液芯光纤     

Broadband 10 Gb/s operation of graphene electro‐absorption modulator on silicon

High performance integrated optical modulators are highly desired for future optical interconnects. The ultra‐high bandwidth and broadband operation potentially offered by graphene based electro‐absorption modulators has attracted a lot of attention in the photonics community recently. In this work, we theoretically evaluate the true potential of such modulators and illustrate this with experimental results for a silicon integrated graphene optical electro‐absorption modulator capable of broadband 10 Gb/s modulation speed. The measured results agree very well with theoretical predictions. A low insertion loss of 3.8 dB at 1580 nm and a low drive voltage of 2.5 V combined with broadband and athermal operation were obtained for a 50 μm‐length hybrid graphene‐Si device. The peak modulation efficiency of the device is 1.5 dB/V. This robust device is challenging best‐in‐class Si (Ge) modulators for future chip‐level optical interconnects.     

瑞利布里渊光时域分析系统中电光调制器的理论模型与实验研究

瑞利布里渊光时域分析系统能够以非破坏性方式实现单光源、单端工作,利用强度型电光调制器同时调制脉冲基底和脉冲信号是获得该系统所需连续光和脉冲光的关键技术.本文理论分析、仿真和实验研究了一种将脉冲信号输入到电光调制器偏置端、微波信号输入到电光调制器射频端同时调制脉冲基底和脉冲信号的新调制方法,探讨了电光调制器用于瑞利布里渊光时域分析系统时的最佳工作点问题.结果表明,当调制脉冲基底和脉冲时分别将电光调制器偏置在传输曲线的谷点和峰点,并根据实际系统的组成和性能指标要求选择合适的微波调制信号幅度,可获得满足瑞利布里渊光时域分析系统要求的连续光和脉冲光.本文的研究结果为瑞利布里渊光时域分析系统的最佳化设计提供了理论依据.     

瑞利布里渊光时域分析系统中电光调制器的理论模型与实验研究

瑞利布里渊光时域分析系统能够以非破坏性方式实现单光源、单端工作,利用强度型电光调制器同时调制脉冲基底和脉冲信号是获得该系统所需连续光和脉冲光的关键技术.本文理论分析、仿真和实验研究了一种将脉冲信号输入到电光调制器偏置端、微波信号输入到电光调制器射频端同时调制脉冲基底和脉冲信号的新调制方法,探讨了电光调制器用于瑞利布里渊光时域分析系统时的最佳工作点问题.结果表明,当调制脉冲基底和脉冲时分别将电光调制器偏置在传输曲线的谷点和峰点,并根据实际系统的组成和性能指标要求选择合适的微波调制信号幅度,可获得满足瑞利布里渊光时域分析系统要求的连续光和脉冲光.本文的研究结果为瑞利布里渊光时域分析系统的最佳化设计提供了理论依据.     

三角形谱啁啾光纤光栅的制备及其在光纤无线单边带调制系统中的应用

本文涉及一种三角形谱啁啾光纤光栅的制备以及其在光纤无线(radio over fiber,RoF)单边带调制系统中的应用.基于相位掩模法和变速度折射率调制,实验制备了底部变化范围1.9 nm、透射深度0—15 dB的三角形谱啁啾光纤Bragg光栅,利用其透射谱具有较大负向斜边,研究了其在RoF系统中的应用.方案仅使用一个三角形谱光纤光栅,实现了以下两种功能: 1)双边带调制信号到单边带调制信号转换; 2)降低信号的载波边带比(carrier-to-sideband ratio,CSR),提高接收灵敏度.并 关键词： 光纤通信 微波光子 光纤布拉格光栅 单边带调制     

基于侧向PN结和交趾型PN结的硅基Mach-Zehnder调制器的二阶谐波失真特性

高线性度的电光调制器是构建微波光子链路的核心器件。硅光子调制器利用PN结的载流子色散效应实现微波信号对光波的调制,基于不同结构PN结的调制器有不同的非线性特性。本文采用二阶无杂散动态范围表征二阶谐波失真度,实验研究了采用侧向PN结和交趾型PN结所构成的Mach-Zehnder(MZ)调制器的二阶谐波失真特性。基于侧向PN结和交趾型PN结的MZ调制器的二阶无杂散动态范围为分别为85.11dB·Hz~(1/2)、78.44 dB·Hz~(1/2),表明基于侧向PN结的MZ调制器具有更好的线性度。     

Generation of linearized optical single sideband signal for broadband radio over fiber systems

We propose a new scheme to generate broadband linearized optical single-sideband （OSSB） signal for radio over fiber systems. By using an unbalanced dual parallel Mach-zehnder modulator （DPMZM） followed by optical filtering, a linearized OSSB signal is obtained. With coherent detection, radio frequency （RF） signal can be recovered with simultaneously suppressed second-order distortion and third-order intermodulation. This scheme can be used to realize broadband systems with wide dynamic range.     

Performance Improvement of Optical Single Sideband Signal Using an Integrated Mach-Zehnder Modulator

Abstract

A novel integrated Mach-Zehnder modulator consisting of three phase modulators to generate an optical single sideband with carrier signals in the radio-over-fiber system has been proposed. By adjusting the direct current voltage applied in the modulation arm, named the “direct current arm,” the power of the optical carrier in the optical single sideband signal is controllable, and the optimal carrier-to-sideband ratio of 0 dB can be achieved for any modulation index. The simulation results show that the receiver sensitivity can be greatly improved, and the radio-over-fiber system based on the proposed technique has better robustness.     

星间微波光子链路调制方式的优化

针对外调制星间微波光子链路输出信噪比优化问题,建立了基于双电极马赫 曾德尔调制器的强度调制直接探测星间微波光子链路模型,通过优化调制器调制方式来提高链路性能。用数值模拟方法得到了单边带、双边带和推挽式3种调制方式下链路输出信噪比,利用曲面投影法求得了最优调制方式时一定信噪比要求下发射端所需最小光放大器增益和对应的调制器直流偏置相位。结果表明:相同输入射频信号功率和发射光功率情况下,双边带调制输出信噪比比单边带调制高3 dB,低直流偏置相位推挽调制可以进一步优化输出信噪比。输入射频信号功率为-20 dBm,输出信噪比为17.3 dB时,所需最小光放大器增益为43.9 dB,对应的直流偏置相位为0.87。     

Refined modeling of traveling-wave Ti:LiNbO3 channel waveguide modulator

A refined computation model for traveling-wave operation of external electro-optical phase modulators made of a single titanium in-diffused lithium niobate channel waveguide (Ti:LiNbO₃WG) is described. The modulator circuit model outlined as two traveling-wave coupled microstrips includes microwave losses and dispersion. In the optimization procedure, we consider different circuit load conditions. The influence of a dielectric overlay covering the electrodes is examined. The consolidated techniques of conformal mapping, multiple image, and finite element are used to investigate the microwave characteristics of the structure, and the refractive effective index method is used in calculating the characteristics of the diffused anisotropic optical channel. The performances of Y-cut and Z-cut substrate configurations are compared. We have verified that the Y-cut substrate modulator gives the best overall performance, and that the overlay presence causes significant improvements in the evaluated modulation efficiency and in the bandwidth. A model of the modulator that takes electrode thickness into account permits one to obtain a wider bandwidth.