Dual-Output Mach–Zehnder Modulator for Optical Access Networks

This paper employs dual-output Mach–Zehnder Modulator (MZM) for optical access networks without optical filters. Light waves generated from multiple laser sources are multiplexed and fed into dual-output MZM. Biasing the dual-output MZM at null point generates central carriers in one output port and first-order sidebands in another output port. Reflective semiconductor optical amplifier modulates both the central carriers and sidebands with wired and wireless data, respectively. The modulated optical signals are combined by polarization beam splitter and transmitted through 25-km single-mode fiber. The performance of the proposed scheme is proved by clear eye-diagrams and great bit error rate (BER) curves. Moreover, the power penalty at the BER of 10^-9 is less than 1 dB for both wired and wireless signals. Therefore, the proposed system simultaneously transmits wired and wireless signals.     

Simulation of a flat optical frequency comb using a single-drive multi-RF Mach–Zehnder modulator in a cascaded intensity modulator chain

We proposed a scheme based on two cascaded lithium niobate intensity modulators to generate an optical frequency comb with very high flatness. Single-drive multi-RF waveforms are used for driving the first intensity modulator, and 9 lines within 1 dB power variation can be obtained. When cascading with another intensity modulator, by specially adjusting the DC bias and the drive amplitudes of the RF signals of the two intensity modulators, 27 or 45 comb lines with a spectral power variation about 1 dB are obtained. The scheme is relatively simple and adjustable, and the frequency interval of the OFC varies with microwave frequency applied on modulators.     

Microwave Photonic Up- and Down-Converter with Tunable Phase Shift Based on an Integrated Dual-Polarization Dual-Parallel Mach–Zehnder Modulator without Optically Filtering

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we propose and numerically simulate a microwave photonic phase-tunable frequency converter (MPPTFC) without optically filtering to realize both frequency up- and down-conversion and a full 360° phase-shift for the microwave signal based on an integrated dual-polarization dual-parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator (DP-DPMZM). In the proposed scheme, both microwave RF signal and frequency-tunable local oscillator (LO) are modulated on the lightwave by single-sideband carrier suppression (SSB-CS) modulation to generate optical orthogonally polarized optical tones carrying RF signal with up- or down-converted frequency. A PolM that can support lightwave modulation with opposite modulation indices in transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes is used to introduce a phase difference between the two modes. Then the orthogonally polarized optical tones are aligned into a single polarized state by a polarizer (Pol) and detected by a photodiode (PD), a frequency-converted and phase-shifted microwave signal can be obtained. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed MPPTFC can up-/down-convert the microwave signal with a tunable frequency shift of LO frequency and realize a 360° continuously tunable phase shift via the DC bias voltage of the PolM simultaneously.     

Quantum Fisher Information of Entangled Coherent States in a Lossy Mach–Zehnder Interferometer

We give an analytical result for the quantum Fisher information of entangled coherent states in a lossy Mach-Zehnder interferometer recently proposed by Joo et al., [Phys. Rev. Lett. 107 （2011） 083601]. For small loss of photons, we find that the entangled coherent state can surpass the Heisenberg limit. Phrthermore, the formalism developed here is applicable to the study of phase sensitivity of multipartite entangled coherent states.     

Phase precision of Mach–Zehnder interferometer in PM2.5 air pollution

This paper theoretically explores the effect of PM2.5 air pollution on the phase precision of a Mach–Zehnder interferometer. With the increasing of PM2.5 concentration, phase precision for inputs of coherent state vacuum state and inputs of coherent state squeezed vacuum state will gradually decrease and be lower than the standard quantum limit.When the value of relative humidity is increasing, the precision of two input cases is decreasing much faster. We also find that the precision for inputs of coherent state squeezed state is better than that of coherent state vacuum state when PM2.5 concentration is lower. As PM2.5 concentration increases, the precision for inputs of coherent state squeezed state decreases faster, and then the two precisions tend to be the same while the concentration is higher.     

A Photonic mm-Wave Frequency Sextupler Using an Integrated Mach–Zehnder Modulator with Three Arms

Abstract

A novel photonic mm-wave frequency sextupling scheme based on an integrated Mach–Zehnder modulator with three arms is proposed in this article. Without any optical filter, a high-quality frequency sextupling mm-wave signal can be generated. Compared with mm-wave generation schemes based on traditional two-arm Mach–Zehnder modulators, the proposed scheme does not need DC bias and a complex electrical bias control circuit. Some non-ideal factors are taken into consideration to verify its performance, which proves that a slight deviation of the ideal values does not cause great degradation of the performance of the mm-wave generation scheme.     

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.     

Optimized Design and Fabrication of Mach–Zehnder Interferometer Sensor in Polymer Technology

Abstract

Without any external modulating facilities, through a precisely controlled sensing length of 11,515 μm, the integrated Mach–Zehnder interferometer sensor obtains a quadrature point and linear response in refractive index measuring range of 1.31–1.42 at the wavelength of 1,550 nm. Combined with structure optimization and surface treatment of sensing arm, the sensitivity is measured as 225.4 dB/RIU, and the sensing response time is less than 20 s to analyte solutions. Cost-efficient polymers are used as waveguide materials, and a microfluidic system is achieved.     

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.     

Full quantum mechanical analysis of atomic three-grating Mach–Zehnder interferometry

Atomic three-grating Mach–Zehnder interferometry constitutes an important tool to probe fundamental aspects of the quantum theory. There is, however, a remarkable gap in the literature between the oversimplified models and robust numerical simulations considered to describe the corresponding experiments. Consequently, the former usually lead to paradoxical scenarios, such as the wave–particle dual behavior of atoms, while the latter make difficult the data analysis in simple terms. Here these issues are tackled by means of a simple grating working model consisting of evenly-spaced Gaussian slits. As is shown, this model suffices to explore and explain such experiments both analytically and numerically, giving a good account of the full atomic journey inside the interferometer, and hence contributing to make less mystic the physics involved. More specifically, it provides a clear and unambiguous picture of the wavefront splitting that takes place inside the interferometer, illustrating how the momentum along each emerging diffraction order is well defined even though the wave function itself still displays a rather complex shape. To this end, the local transverse momentum is also introduced in this context as a reliable analytical tool. The splitting, apart from being a key issue to understand atomic Mach–Zehnder interferometry, also demonstrates at a fundamental level how wave and particle aspects are always present in the experiment, without incurring in any contradiction or interpretive paradox. On the other hand, at a practical level, the generality and versatility of the model and methodology presented, makes them suitable to attack analogous problems in a simple manner after a convenient tuning.     

Creating λ /3 focal holes with a Mach–Zehnder interferometer

We report the formation of doughnut-shaped focal intensity distributions with hole diameters of /3.3=232 nm full-width-at-half-maximum. The doughnut shape is created by illuminating a high-numerical-aperture lens with the output of a Mach–Zehnder interferometer, in which half of the wavefront in each arm is phase retarded by . The focal intensities are probed with a point-like scatterer and compared with the predictions of a vectorial focusing theory. The orientation of the phase-discontinuity line with respect to the electric field determines whether a strong longitudinal or a vanishing electric field is produced at the focal point. Conditions are given for creating high-contrast focal holes at the sub-micron scale. PACS 42.25.-p; 42.30.-d; 42.79.-e     

Method for measuring waveguide propagation losses by means of a Mach–Zehnder Interferometer structure

In this paper, a method for measuring waveguide propagation losses by means of a Mach–Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) structure is reported. The method, based on the analysis of the transmission spectra of asymmetric MZIs, enables the propagation losses of the optical waveguides to be calculated without the requirement of identical coupling conditions for each measurement. In addition, the power imbalance of the branching structure in the MZI can also be obtained. Our theoretical analysis is supported by experimental measurements.     

Intensity modulation in two Mach–Zehnder interferometers using plasma dispersion in silicon-on-insulator

We present comparative measurements of two Mach–Zehnder interferometers, one with Y-junction couplers and the other with MMI couplers, both developed in silicon-on-insulator technology and using plasma dispersion effect for light phase modulation. Measurements of fiber-to-fiber losses, absorption coefficient, output intensity vs. time and extinction ratio vs. frequency have been performed at λ=1.3 μm and at λ=1.55 μm. Results are reported and discussed in this paper. Received: 18 May 2001 / Revised version: 24 September2001 / Published online: 30 October 2001     

Temperature measurement of axisymmetric partially premixed methane/air flame in a co-annular burner using Mach–Zehnder interferometry

In this paper partially premixed laminar methane/air co-flow flame is studied experimentally. Methane–air flame is established on an axisymmetric co-annular burner. The fuel-air jet flows from the central tube while the secondary air flows from the region between the inner and the outer tube. The aim is to investigate the flame characteristics for methane/air axisymmetric partially premixed flame using Mach–Zehnder interferometry. Different equivalence ratios (φ=1.4–2.2) and Reynolds numbers (Re=100–1200) are considered in the study. Flame generic visible appearance and the corresponding fringe map structures are also investigated. It is seen that the fringe maps are poorly influenced by equivalence ratio variations at constant Reynolds number but are significantly affected by Reynolds number variations in constant equivalence ratio. Temperatures obtained from optical techniques are compared with those obtained from thermocouples and good agreement is observed. It is concluded that the effect of Reynolds number increment on maximum flame temperature is negligible while equivalence ratio reduction increases maximum flame temperature substantially.     

Enhancing Phase Sensitivity in Mach–Zehnder Interferometers for Arbitrary Input States

To enhance the phase sensitivity of Mach–Zehnder interferometers,we use a tunable phase shift before the light beams are injected into the interferometer.The analytical result of the optimal phase shift is obtained,which only depends on the initial input states.For a non-zero optimal phase shift,the phase sensitivity of the interferometers in the output ports is always enhanced.We can achieve this enhancement for most states,including entangled and mixed states.The optimal phase shift is exhibit...     

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.     

Some theoretical and experimental aspects of three-grating Mach–Zehnder atom interferometers

In this contribution, we present some recent theoretical results concerning the fringe contrast in Mach–Zehnder atom interferometers and the use of Bloch states to describe atomic diffraction. We also describe the observation of diffraction of lithium at thermal energy by a quasi-resonant laser standing wave.     

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.     

Measuring the fractional orbital angular momentum of a vortex light beam by cascaded Mach–Zehnder interferometers

We design an interferometric method for measuring the fractional orbital angular momentum of a vortex light beam by cascading Mach–Zehnder interferometers. The validity of this method is verified by simulation and theoretical analysis. We demonstrate the method experimentally for two stages of cascaded Mach–Zehnder interferometers, which can measure the fractional topological charge up to two. The experimental results agree with the theoretical results well. Since fractional orbital angular momentum may have a potential application in the field of quantum information, one can utilize the method to detect them easily and precisely.     

Study of all-fiber asymmetric interleaver based on two-stage cascaded Mach–Zehnder Interferometer

In order to improve the transmission efficiency of optical-fiber communication system with 10 Gb/s + 40 Gb/s, an all-fiber interleaver with unequal passband is proposed and discussed, which is based on a two-stage cascaded Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI). The optimum value of structural parameters, such as splitting ratios of the couplers and the physical length differences of the interferometer arms, were chosen. One set of optimized data is validated in the experimental result. The experimental results and the theoretic analysis indicate that an all-fiber optical interleaver with 3 dB passband width in odd channels and even channels could be obtained, which having more than 60 GHz passband and 30 GHz passband, for transmission speed of 40 Gb/s and 10 Gb/s, respectively. By assigning different portions of spectrum to the 10 Gb/s and the 40 Gb/s channels, the bandwidth efficiency requirement of the 40 Gb/s channel is relieved, and therefore longer transmission distance can be achieved.