Relationship between the voltage applied to MZM arms and the generation of optical frequency comb

Yousif I. Hammadi,Tahreer S. Mansour

doi:10.14419/ijet.v7i4.15.23026

Abstract

In this study, an optical frequency comb source (OFCS) based on a dual-drive Mach–Zehnder modulator (MZM) is constructed and theoretically demonstrated. A mathematical model of the constructed OFCS is then built to investigate the effect of the peak-to-peak radio frequency (RF) signals applied to the MZM arms on the generated optical frequency comb (OFC) lines at the MZM output. A dual-drive MZM, a continuous wave laser source, and an RF signal source are included in the OFCS. The chirp parameter can be controlled and 64 comb lines generated at a comb spacing of 25 GHz by regulating voltages applied to the MZM arms. The developed OFCS is relatively simple but valuable. The generated OFC lines can be used for high data-rate transmission.

Highlights

This paper reports the generation of optical frequency comb (OFC) using a dual-drive Mach–Zehnder modulator (MZM)
This paper reports the generation of OFC using a dual-drive MZM
The continuous wave (CW) laser is modulated by radio frequency (RF) signals, and OFC lines are generated at the MZM output

Summary

Introduction

This paper reports the generation of OFC using a dual-drive MZM. The remainder of this paper is organized as follows. The effect of the voltages applied to the MZM arms on the resulting comb lines is investigated . The CW laser is modulated by RF signals, and OFC lines are generated at the MZM output. These methods require complicated structures and high-power optical amplifiers Another effective approach for OFC generation is the external modulation of continuous wave (CW) light; this approach provides stable operation, high flexibility, and tunable comb frequency spacing [10]. In [11], the researchers controlled the DC bias voltage applied to the Mach–Zehnder modulator (MZM) arms with constant radio frequency (RF) signal amplitude to generate. If the number of the generated OFC lines is controlled by the peakto-peak RF signals, DC bias voltages are applied to the MZM arms. Where K is the difference voltage factor between the two arms of the MZM

Simulation results

Conclusion