Quantitative dispersion model for self-dispersion compensation and parameter optimization of interleavers

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a theoretical model based on quantitative dispersion value to evaluate the influence of loss and transmission coefficient on the flatness of the interleaver. We use dispersion range (the difference between the maximum and the minimum) as the measure of flatness, and when the dispersion range is 0.352, the flatness of the interleaver is the highest. We can control the dispersion range around 0.352 by selecting appropriate parameters, achieving self-dispersion compensation. In addition, we can also utilize dispersion range as the index to guide the parameter optimization in the design stage. This method can quickly determine the optimum parameters without a large amount simulation and calculation attempts, thus saving a lot of time and cost. Not limited to the interleaver employing add–drop​ resonator Mach–Zehnder interferometer (ADR–MZI) demonstrated in this paper, our method can also apply for the parameter optimization in the fabrication of interleavers based on various infinite-impulse-response (IIR) filters. Our quantitative dispersion model can greatly reduce the cost of interleaver’s parameter design process and has practical application.