Variable optical attenuators with ability to independently control two orthogonal linearly polarized light amplitudes

New techniques for controlling the amplitudes of two orthogonal linearly polarized light are presented. One is based on adjusting the DC voltage into a Mach–Zehnder modulator(MZM) to alter the amplitude of the light traveling on the slow axis of a fiber into the modulator with little changes in the fast-axis light amplitude.Another is based on adjusting the input DC voltages of a dual-polarization MZM operating in the reverse direction, which enables independent control of the two input orthogonal linearly polarized light amplitudes.Experimental results demonstrate that more than 30 dB difference in slow-and fast-axis light power can be obtained by controlling an MZM input DC voltage, and over 24 dB independent power adjustment for light traveling on the slow and fast axes into a dual-polarization MZM.     

Optimizing effective phase modulation in coupled double quantum well Mach–Zehnder modulators

We report optimal phase modulation based on enhanced electro–optic effects in a Mach–Zehnder(MZ) modulator constructed by AlGaAs/GaAs coupled double quantum well(CDQW) waveguides with optical gain. The net change of refractive indexes between two arms of the CDQW MZ modulator is derived by both the electronic polarization method and the normal-surface method. The numerical results show that very large refractive index change over 10~(-1) can be obtained, making the phase modulation in the CDQW MZ modulator very highly efficient. It is desirable and important that a very small voltage-length product for π phase shift, V_π× L_0= 0.0226 V · mm, is obtained by optimizing bias electric field and CDQW structural parameters, which is about seven times smaller than that in single quantum-well MZ modulators.These properties open an avenue for CDQW nanostructures in device applications such as electro–optical switches and phase modulators.     

Optimized design and fabrication of nanosecond response electro optic switch based on ultraviolet-curable polymers

A nanosecond response waveguide electro-optic(EO) switch based on ultraviolet(UV) sensitive polymers of Norland optical adhesive(NOA73) and Dispersed Red 1(DR1) doped SU-8(DR1/SU-8) is designed and fabricated. The absorption properties, refractive indexes, and surface morphologies of NOA73 film are characterized. The single-mode transmission condition is computed by the effective index method, and the percentage of optical field distributed in EO layer is optimized to be 93.78 %. By means of spin-coating, thermal evaporation, photolithography, and inductively coupled plasma etching,a Mach–Zehnder inverted-rib waveguide EO switch with micro-strip line electrode is fabricated on a silicon substrate.Scanning electron microscope characterization proves the physic-chemical compatibility between NOA73 cladding and DR1/SU-8 core material. The optical transmission loss of the fabricated switch is measured to be 2.5 d B/cm. The rise time and fall time of switching are 3.199 ns and 2.559 ns, respectively. These results indicate that the inverted-rib waveguide based on UV-curable polymers can effectively reduce the optical transmission loss and improve the time response performance of an EO switch.     

High-speed and broad optical bandwidth silicon modulator

A high-speed silicon modulator with broad optical bandwidth is proposed based on a symmetrically configured Mach–Zehnder interferometer.Careful phase bias control and traveling-wave design are used to improve the high-speed performance.Over a broadband wavelength range,high-speed operation up to 30 Gbit/s with a 4.5 dB–5.5 dB extinction ratio is experimentally demonstrated with a low driving voltage of 3 V.     

Optical pulse shaper with integrated slab waveguide for arbitrary waveform generation using optical gradient force

Integrated optical pulse shaper opens up possibilities for realizing the ultra high-speed and ultra wide-band linear signal processing with compact size and low power consumption. We propose a silicon monolithic integrated optical pulse shaper using optical gradient force, which is based on the eight-path finite impulse response. A cantilever structure is fabricated in one arm of the Mach–Zehnder interferometer（MZI） to act as an amplitude modulator. The phase shift feature of waveguide is analyzed with the optical pump power, and five typical waveforms are demonstrated with the manipulation of optical force. Unlike other pulse shaper schemes based on thermo–optic effect or electro–optic effect, our scheme is based on a new degree of freedom manipulation, i.e., optical force, so no microelectrodes are required on the silicon chip,which can reduce the complexity of fabrication. Besides, the chip structure is suitable for commercial silicon on an insulator（SOI） wafer, which has a top silicon layer of about 220 nm in thickness.     

Stability optimization of channel-interleaved photonic analog-to-digital converter by extracting of dual-output photonic demultiplexing

We investigate a channel-interleaved photonic analog-to-digital conversion(PADC)system’s ability to work stably over a long duration with an optimal driving voltage.The influence of optimum bias point drift of a Mach–Zehnder modulator(MZM)-based photonic switch on this system was analyzed theoretically and experimentally.The feasibility of extracting feedback signals from the PADC system was derived.A high-stability channel-interleaved PADC was constructed by extracting a feedback signal from a parallel demultiplexing module to control the MZM-based photonic switch’s driving voltage.Consequently,the amplitude mismatch between the channels was limited to within 0.3 d B over 12 hours of operation.     

Generation of ultra-flat optical frequency comb using a balanced driven dual parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator

We propose and experimentally demonstrate an ultra-flat optical frequency comb(OFC) generator by a balanced driven dual parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator. Five- and seven-tone OFC with exactly equal intensity can be generated theoretically. Experimentally obtained five- and seven-tone OFC with flatness of 0.6 and 1.26 d B are demonstrated, respectively, which agrees well with the theoretical results.     

Phase sensitivity with a coherent beam and twin beams via intensity difference detection

We focus on the Mach–Zehnder interferometer(MZI) with the input of a coherent beam and one of the bright entangled twin beams with an external power reference beam employed for measurement. The results show that the phase sensitivity can reach sub-Heisenberg limit and approach quantum Cramer–Rao bound by changing the squeezing parameters and the photon number of the coherent beam, under the phase-matching condition. The absence of the external power reference beam will degrade the performance of...     

Switching response of dual-output Mach–Zehnder modulator in channel-interleaved photonic analog-to-digital converter

This Letter theoretically and experimentally studies the response of photonic switching in a channel-interleaved photonic analog-to-digital converter(PADC) with high sampling rate and wide input frequency range. A figure of merit(FoM) is introduced to evaluate the switching response of the PADC when a dual-output Mach–Zehnder modulator(MZM) serves as the photonic switch to parallelize the sampled pulse train into two channels. After the optimization of the FoM and utilization of the channel-mismatch compensation algorithm,the system bandwidth of PADC is expanded and the signal-to-distortion ratio is enhanced.     

Using a Mach–Zehnder interferometer to deduce nitrogen density mapping

This work presents an optical method using the Mach–Zehnder interferometer. We especially diagnose a pure nitrogen gas subjected to a point to plane corona discharge, and visualize the density spatial map. The interelectrode distance equals6 mm and the variation of the optical path has been measured at different pressures: 220 Torr, 400 Torr, and 760 Torr.The interferograms are recorded with a CCD camera, and the numerical analysis of these interferograms is assured by the inverse Abel transformation. The nitrogen density is extracted through the Gladstone–Dale relation. The obtained results are in close agreement with values available in the literature.     

Terahertz imaging using an optical frequency comb source

Optical frequency combs, which are generated by the cascade of a phase modulator and a Mach–Zehnder intensity modulator, are used as a polychromatic signal source in the terahertz imaging system to improve imaging quality. The interference effect caused by the monochromatic wave has been greatly suppressed.The required optical power in the presented system is as low as～30% of that in the system using the Er-doped fiber amplifier as a source, which can reduce cost and protect photodiodes from damage. This work provides an effective, low power consumption, low cost, and easy way to realize terahertz imaging with high quality and can be used in future security inspections.     

Wavelength-mode pulse interleaver on the silicon photonics platform

We report an 8-channel wavelength-mode optical pulse interleaver on a silicon photonic chip.Wavelength-and mode-division multiplexing techniques are combined to increase the repetition rate of the pulses without adding the complexity of a single dimension.The interleaver uses a cascaded Mach–Zehnder interferometer architecture as a wavelength-division(de)multiplexer,an asymmetric directional coupler as a mode(de)multiplexer,and various lengths of silicon waveguides as delay lines.A pulse sequence with a time interval of 125 ps is implemented with the repetition rate being eight times that of the initial one.The demonstrated wavelength-mode multiplexing approach opens a new route for the generation of high-speed optical pulses.     

Investigation on an all-optical intensity modulator based on an optical microfiber coupler

An all-optical intensity modulator based on an optical microfiber coupler(OMC) is presented. The modulator works at 1550 nm wavelength and is modulated directly by heating the coupling region with 980 nm pump light injected through the coupling port of the OMC. The OMC is controlled to have at least a 30 mm long coupling region with diameter smaller than 8 μm, and the uniform waist region diameter is about 3 μm. This is helpful to ensure the optical modulation function based on the light induced thermal effect in the coupling region, while pump light is injected. The modulation response is measured to show good linearity when the 980 nm pump light has a lower intensity(with power below 2.5 mW), which proves that the OMC acts as an all-optical modulator.The bandwidth of the modulator can be at 0.2–50 kHz with the average power of the intensity-modulated pump light about 2 mW, which can be further improved by optimizing the design of the coupler. The demonstrated modulator may have potential value for the application in an all-optical integration system.     

Quantum metrology with two-mode squeezed thermal state: Parity detection and phase sensitivity

Based on the Wigner-function method, we investigate the parity detection and phase sensitivity in a Mach–Zehnder interferometer(MZI) with two-mode squeezed thermal state(TMSTS). Using the classical transformation relation of the MZI, we derive the input–output Wigner functions and then obtain the explicit expressions of parity and phase sensitivity.The results from the numerical calculation show that supersensitivity can be reached only if the input TMSTS have a large number photons.     

Simultaneous clock recovery and demultiplexing of a 320 Gb/s OTDM system using an optoelectronic oscillator based on cascaded MZM and PolM

An improved optoelectronic oscillator scheme for an optical time division multiplexing(OTDM) system based on cascaded Mach-Zehnder modulator(MZM) and polarization modulator(PolM) is experimentally investigated.The system can simultaneously realize clock recovery and demultiplexing.With the MZM working at peak point to generate return-to-zero-33 optical pulses and the PolM working as an equivalent intensity modulator,a high-quality clock signal with 35-fs timing jitter is extracted from the 160-GBaud OTDM-differential quaternary phase-shift keying signal.Narrow short optical switch gates(4 ps) are also generated to demultiplex 160-GBaud signals to 40-GBaud signals.Error-free performance is achieved with 2.4-dB power penalty in the worst case.     

4×4 multiple-input multiple-output coherent microwave photonic link with optical independent sideband and optical orthogonal modulation

A 4 × 4 multiple-input multiple-output coherent microwave photonic(MWP) link to transmit four wireless signals with an identical microwave center frequency over a single optical wavelength based on optical independent sideband(OISB) modulation and optical orthogonal modulation with an improved spectral efficiency is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. At the transmitter, the OISB modulation and optical orthogonal modulation are implemented to generate an OISB signal using a dual-parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator(DPMZM) driven by four microwave orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing(OFDM) signals with an identical microwave center frequency. At the receiver, the OISB signal is coherently detected at a coherent receiver where a free-running local oscillator(LO) laser source is employed. Digital signal processing is then used to recover the four OFDM signals, to eliminate the phase noise from the transmitter laser source and the LO laser source, and to cancel the unstable wavelength difference between the wavelengths of the transmitter laser source and the LO laser source. Error-free transmission of three 16 quadrature amplitude modulation(16-QAM) 1 Gbps OFDM signals and one 16-QAM 1.5 Gbps OFDM signal at a microwave center frequency of 2.91 GHz over a 10 km single-mode fiber is experimentally demonstrated.     

Polymer waveguide thermo-optical switch with loss compensation based on NaYF_4: 18% Yb~(3+), 2% Er~(3+) nanocrystals

A polymer waveguide thermo-optical switch with loss compensation based on NaYF_4: 18% Yb~(3+), 2% Er~(3+)nanocrystals, fabricated by traditional semiconductor processes, has been investigated. NaYF4: 18% Yb~(3+), 2% Er~(3+)nanocrystals were prepared by a pyrolysis method. The morphology and luminescent properties of the nanocrystals were characterized.The nanocrystals were doped into SU-8 as the core material of an optical waveguide amplifier. The size of the device was optimized for its optical and thermal fields as well as its transmission characteristics. The device was fabricated on a silica substrate by spin coating, photolithography, and wet etching. The insertion loss of the switch device is～15 dB. The rise and fall times of the device are 240 μs and 380 μs, respectively, as measured by application of a 304 Hz square wave voltage. The extinction ratio of the device is about 14 dB at an electrode-driving power of 7 mW. When the pump light power is 230 mW and the signal light power is 0.1 mW, the loss compensation of the device is 3.8 dB at a wavelength of1530 nm. Optical devices with loss compensation have important research significance.     

Photonic generation of amplitude-and phase-modulated microwave signals with frequency and modulation bit-rate tunability

A photonic approach for the generation of an amplitude- and phase-modulated microwave signal with tun-able frequency and modulation bit-rate is proposed and demonstrated. Two coherent optical wavelengths are generated based on external modulation by biasing a Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) at the minimum transmission point to generate ±1-order optical sidebands while suppressing the optical carrier. The two sidebands are sent to a circulator and are then spectrally separated by a fiber Bragg grating notch filter. With one sideband being amplitude-modulated at another MZM and the other being phase-modulated at a phase modulator, a frequency-tunable amplitude-and phase-modulated microwave signal is generated by beating the two sidebands at a photodetector. The proposed technique is investigated theoretically and experimentally. As a result, a 20-GHz amplitude-modulated, 20-GHz phase-modulated, and 25-GHz amplitude-and phase-modulated microwave signals with tunable modulation bit-rate are experimentally generated.     

16-channel dual-tuning wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer

A 16-channel dual tuning wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer based on silicon on insulator platform is demonstrated, which is both peak wavelength tunable and output optical power tunable. The wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer consists of an arrayed waveguide grating for wavelength division multiplexing/demultiplexing, a heater for peak wavelength tuning and a variable optical attenuator based on p–i–n carrier-injection structure for optical power tuning. The experimental results show that the insertion loss on chip of the device is 3.7 dB–5.7 dB and the crosstalk is 7.5 dB–9 dB. For the tunability of the peak wavelength, 1.058-nm wavelength tunability is achieved with 271.2-mW power consumption, and the average modulation efficiency is 3.9244 nm/W; for the tunability of the optical power, the optical power equalization is achieved in all 16 channels, 20-dB attenuation is achieved with 144.07-mW power consumption,and the raise/fall time of VOA is 35 ns/42 ns.     

All polymer asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer waveguide sensor by imprinting bonding and laser polishing

We present an all polymer asymmetric Mach–Zehnder interferometer(AMZI) waveguide sensor based on imprinting bonding and laser polishing method. The fabrication methods are compatible with high accuracy waveguide sensing structure. The rectangle waveguide structure of this sensor has three sensing surfaces contacting the test media, and its sensing accuracy can be increased 5 times compared with that of one surface sensing structure. An AMZI device structure is designed. The single mode condition, the length of the sensing arm, and the length deviation between the sensing arm and the reference arm are optimized. The length deviation is optimized to be 19.8 μm in a refractive index range between1.470 and 1.545. We fabricate the AMZI waveguide by lithography and wet etching method. The imprinting bonding and laser polishing method is proposed and investigated. The insertion loss is between-80.36 dB and-10.63 dB. The average and linear sensitivity are 768.1 d B/RIU and 548.95 dB/RIU, respectively. And the average and linear detection resolution of the sensor are 1.30×10~(-6) RIU(RIU: refractive index unit) and 1.82×10~(-5) RIU, respectively. This sensor has a fast and cost-effective fabrication process which can be used in the cases of requiring portability and disposability.