Optimization of an Externally Modulated RF Photonic Link

The noise figure and sub-octave spurious-free dynamic range of a carrier-suppressed analog RF photonic link are examined. Expressions for noise figure and dynamic range are derived as a function of the modulator bias angle. A closed form expression for the bias angle that optimizes link noise figure and spurious-free dynamic range is also derived. Experimental results are presented and shown to agree with calculations. These experimental results include some of the lowest noise figure and highest dynamic range results published to date for an RF photonic link incorporating a standard Mach-Zehnder modulator: 6 dB and 122 dB·Hz^2/3, respectively.     

Optimization of an Externally Modulated RF Photonic Link

Abstract

The noise figure and sub-octave spurious-free dynamic range of a carrier-suppressed analog RF photonic link are examined. Expressions for noise figure and dynamic range are derived as a function of the modulator bias angle. A closed form expression for the bias angle that optimizes link noise figure and spurious-free dynamic range is also derived. Experimental results are presented and shown to agree with calculations. These experimental results include some of the lowest noise figure and highest dynamic range results published to date for an RF photonic link incorporating a standard Mach-Zehnder modulator: 6 dB and 122 dB·Hz^2/3, respectively.     

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。     

I/Q intensity-demodulation analog photonic link based on polarization modulator

We experimentally investigate a high-linearity analog photonic link based on polarization-modulation in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) intensity-demodulation. In the proposed system, a light wave with its polarization direction oriented at an angle of 45° with respect to the principal axis of the polarization modulator (PolM) is polarization modulated by a drive signal. In the receiver, the polarization-modulated signal is split into two paths using a 50:50 optical coupler (OC). In each path, a polarization beam splitter (PBS) is connected to the PolM via a polarization controller (PC) to realize the in-phase and quadrature signal, respectively. Thanks to the polarization-modulation to intensity-modulation conversion, the fluctuation of the optical phase noise has no impact on the coherent signals. In addition, the use of a single PolM allows the link avoids the matching requirements of dual modulator schemes. The linearization leads to suppression of the third-order intermodulation (IMD3) by more than 40 dB, compared to the quadrature signal. Experimental results show that the link gain is -11.5 dB, noise figure is 26.5 dB, and the third-order limited spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) is 124 dB in a 1 Hz bandwidth.     

A tunable and reconfigurable microwave photonic filter based on two cascaded modulators and a dispersive medium

A novel tunable and reconfigurable microwave photonic filter based on two cascaded modulators and a dispersive medium is proposed, theoretically discussed and experimentally demonstrated. A single-wavelength LD and a modulator (either a Mach-Zehnder modulator or a phase modulator which can avoid the dc bias drift problem) are used to obtain a multi-wavelength optical source. By adjusting the modulation frequency and the bias voltage on the modulators, the wavelength spacing and the relative amplitude of the optical tones change, thus making the filter tunable and reconfigurable. The experimental results show that the proposed filters have good tunability and reconfigurability and the mainlobe-to-sidelobe ratio of around 25 dB is achieved.     

基于双平行马赫-曾德尔调制器的大动态范围微波光子下变频方法

为了提高微波光子下变频链路的性能,提出了基于集成双平行马赫-曾德尔调制器的微波光子下变频方法.通过理论推导和数值仿真分析了系统的增益和无杂散动态范围,实验搭建了基于双平行马赫-曾德尔调制器的下变频链路,控制直流偏置电压使双平行马赫-曾德尔调制器工作在高载波抑制的双边带调制模式,并对链路进行了性能测试.实验结果表明:该下变频链路的增益为7.43 d B,无杂散动态范围达到了110.85 d B/Hz2/3,工作频段可覆盖5—18 GHz的宽频范围.基于双平行马赫-曾德尔调制器的下变频方法可优化设计输出频谱,系统结构简单、易于实现,为微波光子下变频链路提供了有效的解决方案.     

用于光纤无线通讯的微环相位辅助型马赫-曾德尔调制器

针对光纤无线通信(ROF)系统对光强调制器线性度的特殊要求,设计了一种新型的集成光学器件——微环相位辅助型马赫-曾德尔调制器(RPAMZM)。将一个微环谐振器和一个相位调制器分别加载到马赫-曾德尔调制器的两臂,可以补偿普通马赫-曾德尔调制器的亚线性,得到线性度良好的响应特性。建立了该种器件的理论分析模型,计算了不同条件下的传输特性和无毛刺动态范围(SFDR)。分析结果表明,在不计损耗的情况下,器件的非线性主要来源于传输函数泰勒展式的三次项,通过控制透射系数,可以使该项等于零,无毛刺动态范围获得19.68 dB的提高;在损耗存在的情况下,通过控制透射系数和偏压因子,可以同时抑制掉二次和三次这两个主要的非线性项,无毛刺动态范围获得15.74 dB的相对改善。     

High carrier suppression double sideband modulation using polarization state rotation filter and optical external modulator

We propose a high carrier suppression double sideband modulation technique using a Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) and an integrated polarization state rotation filter (PSRF), which is designed to improve the carrier suppression ratio. With the functions of MZM and PSRF, about 30 dB carrier suppression ratio relative to first-order sidebands is demonstrated. Moreover, we demonstrate the optical generation of microwave/millimeter-wave signals by beating the carrier suppressed double sideband (DSB-SC) lightwave signals. The experimental results show that the improvement of carrier suppression ratio with PSRF can effectively cancel the modulating RF frequency component. A tunable and high purity microwave signal, which is limited by the bandwidth of MZM and photodetector (PD), is obtained, and it does not suffer from obvious phase noise degradation with 25 km transmission.     

Gain-flattened S-band depressed cladding erbium doped fiber amplifier with a flat bandwidth of 12 nm using a Tunable Mach-Zehnder Filter

S-band amplification is an important area of optical communications research, focusing on meeting the ever-increasing demands for traffic bandwidth as the C- and L-bands approaches to their limits. In this paper a novel method of providing an S-band optical amplifier with a flat gain-bandwidth is proposed. The proposed method utilizes a Depressed Cladding Erbium Doped Fibre together with a Tunable Mach-Zehnder Filter as to generate a flat amplification bandwidth of 12 nm stretching from 1492 to 1504 nm. The average gain value is approximately 24.21 dB, with a peak to peak fluctuation of 0.83 dB and a noise figure ranges from 7.13 to 10.94 dB for input signals of 1484 to 1510 nm.     

两路输入前置光放大星间微波光子链路优化

考虑到星间微波光子链路传输损耗大且多路微波信号之间交调干扰严重,利用前置光放大来提高链路的信号噪声失真比RSNDR。建立了两路输入前置光放大星间微波光子链路模型,推导出了RSNDR的解析表达式。通过优化马赫-曾德尔调制器的直流偏置相移,使得在给定输入射频信号功率条件下RSNDR最大,并进一步分析了前置光放大器参数对最优直流偏置相移和RSNDR的影响。仿真结果表明,前置光放大改变了影响RSNDR的主要因素,使信号放大的倍数大于噪声和三阶交调(IM3)放大的倍数,从而提高了链路的RSNDR。当前置光放大器增益为20dB、噪声系数为3dB时,最优的RSNDR比不加前置光放大器时提高24dB。前置光放大器增益和噪声系数对最优的RSNDR影响很大,而对最优的直流偏置相移几乎无影响。     

Simulation of Third-Order Intermodulation Distortion Suppression Incorporating Dual-Parallel Mach–Zehnder Modulator in a CR-SSB Modulation

A novel scheme is proposed to enlarge the spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) of microwave photonic (MWP) link by using dual-parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator, which modifies the single sideband signal and replaces the optical carrier with an unmodulated one to remove the optical main sources of third-order intermodulation distortion (IMD3). Simulation results show that the IMD3 and fifth-order intermodulation distortion can be suppressed greatly even when the modulation depth increases to a high value, and the link is limited by seventh-order intermodulation distortion and the SFDR is improved by 34.2 dB Hz in a 1-Hz bandwidth. The error vector magnitude of the MWP link with the proposed scheme is improved significantly for the transmitted 1-Gbit/s 16- quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) signal.     

Analytical model, analysis and parameter optimization of a super linear electro-optic modulator (SFDR > 130 dB)

An analytical model of a super linear optical modulator with high spurious-free-dynamic-range (SFDR > 130 dB) is presented and analyzed. The linear modulator is referred to as IMPACC which stands for Interferometric Modulator with Phase-modulating And Cavity-modulating Components. The modulator is based on a unique combination of a RF-driven phase-modulator (PM) and a ring resonator (RR) within a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) configuration. Our analysis shows that our design can achieve SFDR values which are ~ 20 dB higher than the standard MZI modulator and 3-5 dB from the Ring Assisted Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (RAMZI) modulator. Both PM and RR in the IMPACC are simultaneously driven by a RF signal of the same frequency, but not necessarily the same amplitudes. The analytical model shows that the combination of these two optical elements, with the proper choice of RF-driving and device parameters, can lead to four important and compelling consequences. First, it offers a wholistic and elegant model in which the standard MZI modulator and the RAMZI modulator are just special cases of IMPACC. Second, the model offers an excellent parameter optimization methodology for fast parameter (internal and/or external) selection and performance evaluation. Third, it provides additional degree of control through the introduction of an external control parameter, the RF power split ratio (F). Lastly, it demonstrates one unique feature of IMPACC such as adaptive SFDR characteristics, where manufacturing tolerances in the transmission coefficient (τ) of the RR can be compensated with proper adjustments of the external parameter of the power split ratio (F).     

Ultra-Broad-Band LiNbO3 Electro-Optic Modulators with Novel Complex Electrode

The characteristics of Z- cut LiNbO3 optical modulators with novel complex electrode are discussed by using the finite element method (FEM) and studied experimentally in this paper. The travelling wave electrode consists of upper and lower parts. It can easily realize phase velocity matching between microwave and optical wave and drastically reduce microwave electrode loss. An electrooptic modulator with larger than 100 GHz bandwidth and half wave voltage 6 V is designed, fabricated and measured. Vπ is 5.1 V and the attenuation coefficient a0 is 0.3 dB/(cm· GHz1/2 ). The experimental results show that the modulator has great potentiality for expanding bandwidth.     

Compensation of dispersion-induced power fading for highly linear radio-over-fiber link using carrier phase-shifted double sideband modulation

A carrier phase-shifted (CPS) double sideband (DSB) modulation technique in radio-over-fiber (RoF) system is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. By tuning the biases in a single-drive dual parallel Mach-Zehnder modulator (SD-DPMZM), the optical carrier in the DSB spectrum acquires additional phase shift. The transmittance response of a dispersive RoF link is thus being controlled and shifted in the frequency domain. Experiments successfully turned the maximum transmission frequency to 10?GHz and 15?GHz for both 25 and 39?km fiber links. This is also a highly linear scheme, of which a spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) of 111.3?dB·Hz^2/3 is experimentally obtained.     

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.     

Characteristic of a broadband Ti:LiNbO3 optical modulator with buried electrodes and etched grooves in the buffer layer

Traveling wave Ti:LiNbO₃ Mach-Zehnder optical modulators with buried electrodes and etched grooves in the SiO₂ buffer layer are analyzed by the finite element method. The tradeoff between the bandwidth BW and the half-wave voltage Vπ is discussed. The value of BW/Vπ is used to weight the total performance of the modulator. Taking a thick buffer layer and etching deep grooves in the buffer layer are demonstrated as two effective methods to improve the performance of the modulator. A 3-dB optical bandwidth of 18 GHz with half-wave voltage 5V at a wavelength of 1.55 pm could be obtained even though the electrode is not very thick. When the requirement of half-wave voltage is not very critical, a bandwidth of more than 100 GHz can be obtained.     

Ultra-Broad-Band LiNbO_3 Electro-Optic Modulators with Novel Complex Electrode

1 IntroductionFOr LiNbO3 modulators, the bandwidth is mainly restricted by the microwaveattenuation of the travelling--wave electrode and the phase velocity ndsmatch betWeenmicrowave and optical wave in the devices. When the phase velocity matching issatisfied it is very i~rtant to decrease the microwave attenuation for expandingbandwidth. The thecrowave propagating lOSS is the main source Of the microwaveattenuation in the interactive region. The larger the cross-sectional area or the lOn…     

应用马赫-曾德尔调制器的光微波链路建模

在考虑马赫-曾德尔调制器(MZM)的消光比、双臂驱动不平衡度等非理想特性参量对其进行细致的理论建模的基础上,建立了包括光源、双臂驱动马赫-曾德尔调制器、光传输模块、光电探测器的基本光微波链路模型,并得到双边带调制(DSB)和单边带调制(SSB)链路的全阶解析响应结果,着重分析不同调制方式下马赫-曾德尔调制器对光微波链路幅度和相位(延时)性能的影响。理论计算和数值仿真结果表明,对双边带调制链路,消光比和双臂驱动不平衡度影响链路的幅频特性而不影响相位特性,对单边带调制链路,二者同时影响链路的幅频和相频特性。理论模型和数值结果可为使用马赫-曾德尔调制器的光微波系统如光纤无线电(RoF)和光控微波波束形成网络等提供定性和定量性能分析的基础。     

微环辅助Mach-Zehnder光调制器的线性特性

分析了有损耗的多环辅助Mach-Zehnder(MZ)光调制器,获得了在偏置点处令二阶和三阶高次项同时为零的方程,并在此基础上解得单环和双环辅助下的设计参量的解析表达式.利用解析式可方便地得到在偏置点处二阶和三阶高次项同时为零的高线性MZ光调制器的设计方案.同时对微环辅助MZ光调制器的特性进行了分析.     

High-Q, tunable, photonic microwave single passband filter based on stimulated Brillouin scattering and fiber Bragg grating filtering

We experimentally demonstrate a single passband, photonic microwave bandpass filter scheme based on stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in optical fiber. A single side band (SSB)-modulated probe and a single frequency, tunable pump beam that have been produced by the combination of conventional Mach-Zehnder modulators and fiber Bragg grating filters, are used for the generation of SBS phenomenon in a 1-km long highly nonlinear dispersion-shifted optical fiber. Using the proposed scheme a single microwave passband with a ∼26 MHz bandwidth is readily achieved over a radio frequency tuning range from 1.3 to 9.3 GHz. The maximum Q-factor is measured to be ∼360.