W-Band 8QAM Vector Signal Generation by MZM-Based Photonic Frequency Octupling

Abstract

We propose a novel scheme for photonic multiamplitude quadrature-amplitude-modulation (QAM) vector signal generation at microwave/millimeter-wave bands enabled by Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM)-based adaptive photonic frequency multiplication. In order to attain an electrical millimeter-wave vector signal displaying multiamplitude QAM modulation, such as 8QAM, after square-law photodiode detection, the driving radio-frequency (RF) signal, carrying multiamplitude QAM transmitter data, should be both amplitude- and phase-precoded before used to drive the MZM. We experimentally demonstrate 8QAM vector signal generation at W-band adopting photonic frequency octupling (x8) enabled by our proposed scheme. The MZM is driven by a 12-GHz precoded RF signal carrying 1-GBaud 8QAM transmitter data. The generated 1-GBaud 8QAM vector signal at W-band is air transmitted over 2-m distance. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time to realize the generation and reception of multiamplitude QAM vector signal by one external modulator at W-band.