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.     

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.     

Hybrid cable television and orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexing transport system basing on single wavelength polarization and amplitude remodulation schemes

A hybrid community antenna television (CATV) and orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexing (OFDM) transport system is proposed and experimentally demonstrated to transmit multiple CATV channels and bi-directional radio frequency signals on a single optical carrier. By polarization remodulating an optical CATV signal with downstream OFDM signals and then amplitude remodulating upstream OFDM signals with the hybrid CATV/OFDM signals, this architecture can efficiently utilize only one optical carrier to support optical analog/digital CATV transmission and bi-directional wireless broadband services for each client. Good experimental results prove that this architecture provides a proper wavelength utilization scheme for future multiwavelength optical transport systems.     

Improved optical single-sideband generation using the self-modulation birefringence difference in semiconductor optical amplifiers

By employing the self-modulation birefringence difference in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), an improved method is proposed to generate a complete optical single-sideband (OSSB) signal. Over 30 dB sideband suppression ratios (SSRs) of lower OSSB signals are obtained over a 12 dB input power range and a 36 nm wavelength span, with a maximum of over 35 dB. Upper OSSB signals with an SSR of over 15 dB are observed using a SOA for what is believed to be the first time. This method is effective even for the carrier-suppressed signal. The theory for OSSB generation in an SOA is extended and verified by experiment.     

All-optical generation of 40 Gb/s single sideband signals using a fiber Bragg grating

In this work, we demonstrate a reliable all-optical technique for performing optical double sideband (ODSB) to single sideband (OSSB) format conversion of a 40 Gb/s non-return-to-zero signal. It is based on the optimization of a detuned optical filter, which was implemented on a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) with a complex apodization profile. An OSSB signal with negligible distortion was obtained, as the FBG presented a nearly ideal frequency response. Higher tolerance to chromatic dispersion enabled by the OSSB signal in comparison to the ODSB signal was demonstrated on both simulation and experimental results.     

All-optical subcarrier demodulation in upstream link of millimeter-wave radio over fiber system

A means to achieve all-optical broadband demodulation of subcarrier back into digital data in an upstream link of a millimeter-wave radio over fiber (RoF) system is proposed and demonstrated experimentally. In the central station, the subcarrier from the base station of RoF system can be demodulated in the optical domain directly, without any millimeter-wave electronic device. Using this approach, the rf power degradation can be avoided even when the base stations in systems employ the conventional simple double-sideband modulation. Therefore, an inexpensive and simple configuration of the uplink for broadband signal receiving can be realized.     

Simulative investigation on the impact of laser-spectral width in single-tone radio-over-fiber transmission system using optical single side-band technique

In this paper, we analyzed the impact of laser-spectral width incorporating dual-electrode Mach–Zehnder modulator (DEMZM) in single-tone radio-over-fiber (RoF) transmission system by simulation setup. It is shown that an improvement in the measurement of received radio frequency (RF) power is achieved by reducing the laser line width from 100 MHz to 100 kHz, which further improves the BER rate and optical link by transmitting the information with low power. The results are calculated for 20 and 50 km optical single sideband (OSSB)–RoF transmission system by varying the chirp from 0 to −3 as it requires less bandwidth than optical dual sideband (ODSB)–RoF system and is tolerable for power degradation due to a chromatic fiber-dispersion, through a standard single-mode fiber (SSMF) carried by a continuous wave (CW) laser at 1550 nm of laser-spectral width varying from 100 MHz to 100 kHz with CW power of 10 mW that modulates a single RF channel of 20 GHz. Further, deployment of such lasers with OSSB scheme helps the telecom industry to reduce the designing cost of RoF communication systems.     

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.     

All-optical broadband phase modulation of a subcarrier in a radio over fiber system

An optical modulator that provides broadband phase modulation of microwave subcarriers directly in the photonic domain has been proposed. This modulator, which involves no millimeter-wave device, can provide a dispersion-tolerant output signal with arbitrary phase shift. Therefore it has wide applications in high-frequency radio over fiber systems employing complex constellation modulation. Simulations and a proof-of-concept experiment demonstrate the feasibility of the modulator.     

一种新的单光源多波长双向量子密钥分发系统

针对"即插即用"双向量子密钥分发系统传输效率低的实际问题, 详细分析了系统低效的原因和当前的解决方案, 提出了一种单光源多波长双向量子密钥分发方案. 该方案采用波分复用器件作为滤波器来产生量子密钥分发所需的多波长信号. 与其他多波长方案相比, 该方案的优点是在实现高速多波长量子密钥分发时, 不再受外界控制源调制速率和精度等性能的影响, 不再带来多激光器引入的边信道攻击的缺陷, 且整体系统易于集成. 该方案为"即插即用"量子密钥分发系统的高效研究提供了一个新的参考方案.     

无滤波高倍频光载毫米波生成技术

提出了一种无滤波的高倍频光载毫米波生成方案.该方案未使用相关的光/电滤波器就可16倍频的毫米波信号.整个系统采用三平行的马赫-曾德尔调制器结构和单个马赫-曾德尔调制器级联,通过调整系统的参数可以很好地抑制所有冗余光边带,只留下高质量的8阶光边带,无需任何光/电滤波器就能够得到16倍频的高质量毫米波信号.另外,详细分析了系统的工作原理,并通过仿真验证了调制深度、消光比、移相器偏移以及调制器偏压对系统的影响.研究结果表明将2 Gbit/s的非归零码型数据与10 GHz的射频信号混频后作为马赫-曾德尔调制器的驱动信号,系统经过50 km光纤传输后的链路功率代价为1.0 dB,具有良好的传输性能.该方案对于无滤波的高倍频毫米波生成有一定的参考价值.     

Incoherent broadband optical pulse generation using an optical gate

In two-dimensional (2D) time-spreading/wavelength-hopping optical code division multiple access (OCDMA) systems, employing less coherent broadband optical pulse sources allows lower electrical operating rate and better system performance. An optical gate based scheme for generating weakly coherent(approximately incoherent) broadband optical pulses was proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Inthis scheme, the terahertz optical asymmetric demultiplexer, together with a coherent narrowband controlpulse source, turns an incoherent broadband continuous-wave (CW) light source into the required pulse source.     

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     

Optical Vector Network Analyzer with an Improved Dynamic Range Based on a Polarization Multiplexing Electro-Optic Modulator

We present a new method to achieve an optical vector network analyzer(OVNA) based on a polarization multiplexing electro-optic modulator(PM-EOM) without an optical bandpass filter. Optical single sideband(OSSB)modulated signals with a tunable optical carrier-sideband ratio(OCSR) are obtained at the output of the PMEOM. The OCSR can be flexibly tuned by controlling bias voltages of the PM-EOM. The dynamic range of the OVNA is expanded by taking the improvement of the OCSR into account. The transmission response of an optical device under test(ODUT) is measured based on one-to-one mapping from optical domain to electrical domain. By optimizing the OCSR of the OSSB modulated signals, the dynamic range of the OVNA can be effectively improved with 3.7 dB. An analytical model is derived to describe the transfer function of the ODUT.The magnitude and phase responses of a fiber Bragg grating are characterized with a large dynamic range.     

光纤中双宽带抽运SBS慢光及其脉冲展宽减小的理论研究

提出了一种单模光纤中采用双宽带抽运实现宽带受激布罩渊散射(SBS)慢光的方法.给出了双宽带抽运的SBS慢光及其脉冲展宽的理论模型.色散分析发现,两抽运光间存在一个最佳的频率间隔,可有效地减少由于群速度色散所引起的脉冲展宽.理论计算表明,该方案所获得的SBS增益带宽和信号脉冲群延迟分别提高到了相同条件下单宽带抽运的1.7倍和2倍.     

新型四倍频光生毫米波矢量信号调制技术

提出一种基于双并联马赫-曾德尔调制器(MZM)的新型四倍频光生毫米波技术,并用于矢量信号调制。传统的四倍频调制技术,由于数据信号同时调制到+2,-2阶边带上,拍频检测后两个边带上数据信号会产生相位叠加,只适用于不归零码(NRZ)等强度调制格式。提出的矢量信号调制技术将数据信号调制在一个-1阶边带上,另一个+3阶边带不携带数据,在拍频检测后幅度和相位信息被正确保留。同时,四倍频模块降低了传输过程中对电和光器件的带宽需求。理论分析和仿真结果表明,通过此方法产生的携带在60GHz载波上的6.25×108 symbol/s的四相相移键控(QPSK)信号,经过20km单模光纤传输后,误差向量幅度(EVM)损耗可以忽略。     

A Low-Cost 16 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation Direct-Detection–Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing Radio-over-Fiber System Using Low-Cost Direct-Modulation Laser to Generate Optical mm-Wave

Abstract

This article demonstrates a novel scheme to generate 16 quadrature amplitude modulation orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing signals for radio-over-fiber systems using a low-cost direct-modulation laser to generate an optical millimeter-wave. Mathematical analysis of that system is also investigated. The fiber Bragg grating is employed because the repetitive frequency of the radio frequency source and the bandwidth of the optical modulator are largely reduced, and the architecture of the radio-over-fiber system is simpler. Because no expensive broadband external modulator is used, the overall system is considered a low-cost solution. The simple structure and low cost of the radio-over-fiber system is attractive for the future cost-effective systems.     

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     

Harmonic RF carrier generation and broadband data upconversion using stimulated Brillouin scattering

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a harmonic radio frequency (RF) carrier generation and broadband data upconversion technique with single mode and single sideband (− SSB) modulation for radio-over-fiber (RoF) systems using stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). The optical carrier-to-sideband ratio (CSR) of the single mode and SSB modulated signal can be easily adjusted to achieve the best received sensitivity performance of the RoF system. By using this method, we successfully demonstrate generation of third-harmonic RF carrier at 32.625 GHz with f_LO of 10.875 GHz and upconversion of 1.25-Gb/s data to the RF carrier band. In addition, the data bandwidth is independent of the Brillouin gain profile. Finally, the transmission performance of the RoF downlink system is examined.