Carrier Suppression Modulation Research Articles

Performance study of microwave photonic links by considering the effect of phase shifters and bias conditions on dual-drive dual parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator

Abstract This paper presents the performance analysis of different schemes for generating linearized photonic signal by varying phase shifter arrangements of a dual-drive dual parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator (DD-DPMZM). The RF signals at the electrodes of sub-modulators of DD-DPMZM are fed using different phase angles to generate optically modulated signals in the output. The proposed system consists of a DD-DPMZM and phase shifters. Spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) is evaluated for different configurations of sub modulators in upper and lower arm of DD-DPMZM. SFDR of 135.6 dB Hz4/5 is obtained for quadrature and optical carrier suppression modulation in upper and lower submodulators by suppressing third order intermodulation distortion completely. It is found to be high performance configuration for dual parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator based linear microwave photonic link.

Dual high-order QAM-modulated mm-wave signal transmission in the Q-band enabled by simple IM/DD architecture and bandpass delta-sigma modulation.

The intensity-modulation (IM)/direct-detection (DD) systems have been proven effective and low-cost due to their simple system architecture. However, the Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) of the IM/DD systems only reserves its driving signal intensity. Therefore, the IM/DD systems are generally unable to transmit vector signals and have a restricted spectrum efficiency and channel capacity. Similarly, the radio-over-fiber (RoF) transmission systems based on IM/DD are limited by their simple architecture and generally cannot transmit high-order quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) signals, which hinders the improvement of their spectrum efficiency. To address the challenges, we propose a novel, to the best of our knowledge, scheme to simultaneously transmit the dual independent high-order QAM-modulated millimeter-wave (mm-wave) signals in the RoF system with a simple IM/DD architecture, enabled by precoding-based optical carrier suppression (OCS) modulation and bandpass delta-sigma modulation (BP-DSM). The dual independent signals can carry different information, which increases channel capacity and improves spectrum efficiency and system flexibility. Based on our proposed scheme, we experimentally demonstrate the dual 512-QAM mm-wave signal transmission in the Q-band (33-50 GHz) under three different scenarios: 1) dual single-carrier (SC) signal transmission, 2) dual orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexing (OFDM) signal transmission, and 3) hybrid SC and OFDM signal transmission. We achieve high-fidelity transmission of dual 512-QAM vector signals over a 5 km single-mode fiber (SMF) and a 1-m single-input single-output (SISO) wireless link operating in the Q-band, with the bit error rates (BERs) of all three scenarios below the hard decision forward error correction (HD-FEC) threshold of 3.8 × 10-3. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time dual high-order QAM-modulated mm-wave signal transmission has been achieved in a RoF system with a simple IM/DD architecture.

Dual vector millimeter-wave signal generation based on optical carrier suppression modulation and direct detection with one photodetector.

We propose a novel, to the best of our knowledge, scheme for dual vector millimeter-wave (mm-wave) signal generation and transmission, based on optical carrier suppression (OCS) modulation, precoding, and direct detection by a single-ended photodiode (PD). At the transmitter side, two independent vector radio frequency (RF) signals with precoding, generated via digital signal processing (DSP), are used to drive an in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) modulator operating at the optical OCS modulation mode to simultaneously generate two independent frequency-doubling optical vector mm-wave signals, which can reduce the bandwidth requirement of transmitter's components and enhance spectral efficiency. With the aid of the single-ended PD and subsequent DSP at the receiver side, two independent frequency-doubling vector mm-wave signals can be separated and demodulated without data error. Based on our proposed scheme, we experimentally demonstrate the generation, transmission, and detection of 2-Gbaud 30-GHz quadrature-phase-shift-keying (QPSK) and 2-Gbaud 46-GHz QPSK signals over 10-km single-mode fiber-28 (SMF-28) and 1-m wireless transmission. The results indicate that the bit-error ratio (BER) of the dual vector mm-wave signals can each reach the hard-decision forward-error-correction (HD-FEC) threshold of 3.8 × 10-3.

Secure FSO communication based on optical frequency-hopping technology using delay interferometers

—A novel optical frequency-hopping (OFH) scheme using optical delay interferometers (DI) is proposed and demonstrated for secure transmission in free space. By performing carrier suppression modulation on the light wave emitted by the laser and connecting the phase modulator (PM) and DI in series, the conversion of the light wave modulated by the Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) from phase modulation to intensity modulation can be realized, and finally output the desired optical frequency-shift-keying (OFSK) carrier signal. Meanwhile, by controlling the positions of the frequencies of the positive and negative first-order sideband light waves on the DI frequency response curve, the OFSK signals output by the two ports of the DI can be complemented in the time domain. For the proposed OFH scheme, we carried out simulation experiments of 5 km free-space link transmission and back-to-back transmission with a communication rate of 10 Gbps, and the simulation results proved the feasibility of the scheme. Additionally, we also analyze the security performance of the proposed scheme and give the security space based on the eavesdropping probability.

Photonic generation of frequency-doubling Nyquist pulses using external modulation.

In this paper, an approach to generate frequency-doubling sinc-shaped optical Nyquist pulses based on external modulation is proposed and demonstrated. First, four flat optical frequency comb (OFC) lines are obtained after optical carrier suppression modulation in a dual-electrode Mach-Zehnder modulator. Then an optical interleaver is introduced to split the phase-locked OFC into two paths, of which one is transmitted to a dual-parallel Mach-Zehnder modulator for quadrupling RF modulation and another is applied to the remodulated signal to acquire comb lines with equal intervals. Thus, a phase-locked 12-line flat OFC with equal frequency intervals and corresponding Nyquist pulses is finally obtained, and Nyquist pulses at 2.5GHz, 5GHz, 10GHz, and 15GHz are achieved.

Optical Tunable Frequency-Doubling OEO Using a Chirped FBG Based on Orthogonally Polarized Double Sideband Modulation

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a tunable frequency-doubling optoelectronic oscillator (FD-OEO) based on a single-bandpass dispersion-induced microwave photonic filter (MPF) consisting of a Mach–Zehnder modulator (MZM), a linearly chirped fiber Bragg grating and polarization-multiplexed dual-loop. Thanks to the polarization dependence of the MZM, a special double sideband modulation is implemented where the optical carrier (OC) and subcarriers are orthogonally polarized. By simply tuning the PC in the OEO loop, the phase difference between the orthogonal polarization carrier and two sidebands can be controlled, and thus the center frequency of the fundamental OEO can be tuned. Furthermore, a PC and a polarizer are placed outside the OEO to achieve optical carrier suppression (OCS) modulation, which ensures that a frequency-tunable microwave signal at the second-harmonic frequency is generated. In the experiment, a fundamental frequency signal with tunable frequency from 3.6 to 6.85 GHz and FD-OEO with a tunable frequency range from 7.2 to 13.7 GHz are generated.

Broadband dual-chirp FMCW laser source based on DSB-SC modulation and cascaded FWM.

Based on dual-sideband suppressed-carrier (DSB-SC) modulation and two-stage cascaded four-wave-mixing (FWM), a scheme of broadband dual-chirp frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) laser source is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. First, via a Mach-Zehnder modulator biased at its null point, an original DSB-SC FMCW signal with 4.0 GHz swept-frequency range and 0.2 GHz/μs sweep rate is generated. Next, the original DSB-SC FMCW signal is sent to a 1 km dispersion compensation fiber for implementing first-stage FWM, a dual-chirp FMCW signal with 12.0 GHz swept-frequency range and 0.6 GHz/μs sweep rate is acquired and used as the pump for second-stage FWM. Finally, via second-stage FWM in a 200 m highly nonlinear fiber, a dual-chirp FMCW signal with a swept-frequency range of 36.0 GHz and sweep rate of 1.8 GHz/μs is generated. Taking the FMCW signal generated at different stages as the emitted signal, we evaluate the ranging resolution through fiber-based distance measurement, and the results demonstrate that the achieved ranging resolutions are 5.31 cm, 2.04 cm, and 1.18 cm, respectively. Through equalizing the optical power of generated FMCW signal over the swept-frequency range, the ranging resolution can be further improved.

Single-sideband Suppressed-carrier Modulation and Demodulation: Principles, Analysis, Circuits, and Applications

This comprehensive article provides an in-depth exploration of single-sideband (SSB) modulation and demodulation techniques. The article discusses the principles, fundamental methods, and circuits involved in SSB modulation, highlighting its efficiency as an analog amplitude modulation method for long-distance information transmission while effectively utilizing available bandwidth. A comparative analysis of various modulation methods, including conventional amplitude modulation, double-sideband (DSB)modulation, vestigial sideband (VSB) modulation, frequency modulation (FM), phase modulation (PM), and single-sideband (SSB) modulation, is presented. Furthermore, the article delves into the diverse applications of SSB analog amplitude modulation.

Comparison of performance for third order immune photonic transmission link incorporating phase shifters and biased optimized dual parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator

Abstract This paper presents a comprehension on the linearization arrangements achieved through dual drive dual parallel Mach–Zehnder (DD-DPMZM) by changing bias voltages of sub-modulators and adjusting phases of RF signals. These arrangements comprise of a DD-DPMZM and electric phase shifters. For single sideband (SSB) modulation in sub-modulators of DD-DPMZM, power at intermodulation is found to be 43 dB and 61 dB for the linearized and convention single modulator link respectively. Thus, 28 dB of improvement in suppression of third order intermodulation distortion is reported for the first arrangement of linearization. For quadrature modulation in upper MZM and optical carrier suppression (OCS) modulation in lower modulator, almost complete suppression of IMD3 terms are demonstrated and found to be better performance arrangement for bias optimized dual parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator based linearization link.

Multifrequency Vector Mm-Wave Signal Generation with No Optical Filtering Based on One Dual-Arm MZM with Phase Factor Optimization

In order to reduce the number of devices in and cost of a multifrequency vector millimeter-wave (mm-wave) signal generation system, we propose a novel scheme for multifrequency vector mm-wave signal generation based on one dual-arm Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) without optical filtering. This scheme utilizes the carrier suppression modulation of a single modulator, without the need for optical filtering and combines precoding technology to generate high-frequency QPSK and 16 QAM mm-wave signals. The transmitter is applied with precoding technology to make the frequency multiplying vector mm-wave signal display regular vector modulation at the receiver, and the system is optimized with a phase factor to ensure that the phase distribution of QPSK signal at the receiver is symmetrical. We demonstrated the generation of 4-Gbaud 76 GHz QPSK and 16 QAM vector mm-wave signals through simulation. The simulation results show that, at a fiber transmission distance of 12 km, when the launched optical power of the PD is greater than −20.535 dBm, the bit error ratio (BER) of the QPSK signal is lower than the hard-decision forward error correction (HD-FEC) threshold of 3.8 × 10−3. At a fiber transmission distance of 10 km, when the launched optical power of the PD is greater than −18.637 dBm, the BER of 16 QAM signal is also lower than 3.8 × 10−3.

Enhanced 4×4 MIMO RoF architecture for 5G mmWave indoor applications at 60 GHz unlicensed band

4×4 Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) optical architecture based on Radio over Fiber (RoF) is proposed for 5G millimeter Wave (mmWave) indoor applications in the unlicensed 60 GHz band. First-order and second-order sidebands, generated by Dual-Drive Mach-Zehnder Modulator (DD-MZM), are exploited as optical subcarriers in order to reduce the number of Local Oscillators (LOs) implemented. Four MIMO-OFDM signals are multiplexed using Dual-Parallel Mach-Zehnder Modulator (DP-MZM) configured to perform Optical Carrier Suppression (OCS) modulation. 60 GHz spacing is ensured between each data signal and its corresponding subcarrier which allows simple heterodyne detection at Radio Access Point (RAP) level. In addition, we have proposed a 4×4 MIMO extension of Triple-S-and-Valenzuela (TSV) radio channel model based on geometrical approach. We demonstrate that the proposed RoF system with adequate configuration can meet the 5G New Radio (NR) requirement in terms of Error Vector Magnitude (EVM). Moreover, Bit Error Rate (BER) performance is evaluated with and without 5G NR channel coding, for transmission over 25 km of optical fiber followed by 3 m of radio channel, by exploiting the overall allocated band at 60 GHz which allows to achieve a very high data rate up to 122.5 Gb/s.

Optimization and control of cold atom interference phase shift based on laser double-sideband suppression

Using the electro-optical modulation method to generate Raman beams for cold atom interference is one of the better methods for constructing a more compact and robust laser system. But this way will generate some residual sidebands resulting in the additional interference phase shift, which can affect the measurement accuracy of cold atom interferometer. In order to weaken the effect of laser modulation sidebands on the phase shift of cold atom interference, a double-sideband suppressed-carrier modulation laser system for cold atom interference is constructed. Based on the designed laser system, the principle of double-sideband generation and suppression is analyzed in detail, and some residual sidebands are adjusted and controlled. Moreover, some important optical parameters that affect the phase shift of cold atomic interference, such as the initial distance between the Raman retro-reflection mirror and the atomic cloud, the interrogation time between two adjacent Raman pulses, the laser modulation depth and the initial velocity of the atomic cloud, are discussed and optimized. By optimizing these relevant parameters, the influence of residual modulation sidebands on the phase shift of cold atomic interference is weakened drastically. The research results indicate, making use of the method of double-sideband suppression, the phase shift of cold atomic interference can be optimized to 0.7 mrad when the initial distance between the Raman retro-reflection mirror and the atomic cloud is 105 mm, and the interrogation time between two adjacent Raman pulses is 82 ms. More importantly, this work can provide a method for weakening the influence of Raman sideband effect on the phase shift of cold atom interferometer, and the corresponding laser system can be applied to other inertial sensors such as atomic gravimeter or atomic gravity gradiometer.

Filter-Less Photonic RF Image-Reject Mixing With Simultaneous Self-Interference Cancellation and Fiber Transmission

A filter-free photonic method to simultaneously realize radio frequency (RF) image-reject mixing, self-interference cancellation (SIC), and fiber transmission for in-band full-duplex (IBFD) radio-over-fiber (RoF) link is reported. The key to achieving multi-functions is the joint manipulation of fiber dispersion-induced intermediate frequency (IF) amplitude and time delay changes, which is implemented by sideband phase-shifted optical carrier suppression (SPS-OCS) modulation and frequency tuning of the optical carrier. Owing to the control of IF amplitude and delay variation introduced by fiber dispersion, simultaneous deep image rejection and SIC over wide bandwidth can be realized after fiber transmission. Since no optical filter is required, the proposed system can work at a lower frequency, featuring a large frequency tuning range. For 25 km single-mode fiber (SMF) transmission, simultaneous 20 dB SIC within 1 GHz bandwidth and 29 dB image rejection ratio (IRR) at 6.6 GHz RF frequency in the C band, 21 dB SIC and 19 dB IRR within 1 GHz bandwidth in the X band, 24 dB SIC within 1 GHz bandwidth and 20 dB IRR at 16 GHz RF frequency in the Ku band are experimentally demonstrated. Furthermore, weak SOI with various modulation formats are well recovered after the cancellation of strong interference and fiber transmission.

Photo-Generation of Tunable Microwave Carriers at 2 µm Wavelengths Using Double Sideband with Carrier Suppression Modulation

At 2 µm wavelengths (149.9 THz), hollow-core photonics band gap fibers have higher light power damage thresholds, stable polarization states, and lower losses of 0.1 dB/km. Additionally, a thulium-doped fiber amplifier can provide a gain of >35 dB. Specifically, an indium-rich InGaAs photodetector shows a naturally higher photoresponsivity at 2 µm wavelengths than the C-band. Therefore, using tunable photo-generated microwave technology at 2 µm wavelengths could achieve higher photo-to-electric power conversion efficiencies for higher RF output power applications using the same method at the same frequency. Here, a double sideband with the carrier suppression modulation method was experimentally applied on 2 µm wavelengths to generate tunable and stable microwave carriers. Comparison experiments were also applied on the 1.55 µm (193.4 THz)/1.31 µm wavelengths (228.8 THz) based on the same indium-rich InGaAs photodetector. Through normalization on the wavelength-corresponded squared external quantum efficiency to visualize the photo-to-electric power conversion efficiency at different wavelengths under the same input optical signal power, the ratio between the results at 2 µm wavelengths and C/O-band is abstracted as 1.31/1.98, approaching theoretical estimations. This corresponds to a power conversion efficiency increasement of ~1.16 dB/~2.98 dB. To our knowledge, this is the first study on 2 micron wavelengths that proves the corresponding high efficiency power conversion property.

Photonic Techniques for Generating a Single RF Sideband With No Second Order Sidebands

Two structures that can realise optical single sideband modulation without generating both second order upper and lower sidebands are presented. They are based on a dual-parallel Mach Zehnder modulator (DP-MZM) with an optical filter and a dual-polarisation dual-parallel Mach Zehnder modulator (DPol-DPMZM) with a 90° hybrid coupler. The former is an all-optical structure and hence it has a very wide bandwidth. The latter uses one DP-MZM to realise single sideband suppressed carrier modulation while the other DP-MZM simply passes the optical carrier. It also suppresses the third order sideband on the same side as the wanted fundamental RF modulation sideband. Hence, in an ideal situation, there is no second order harmonic component generated after photodetection. Experimental results are presented for the novel structures, which demonstrate the realisation of optical single sideband modulation without second order sidebands. The results also show large fundamental to second order harmonic power ratio over a wide input RF signal frequency range even after inserting a long single mode fibre into the system for signal transmission. The new optical single sideband modulators find applications in improving the multioctave spurious free dynamic range in a long-haul fibre optic link and reducing measurement errors in an optical vector analyser.

D-band signal generation and transmission without optical filter based on optical carrier suppression and single-sideband modulation.

We experimentally demonstrated a novel and simple scheme to generate D-band millimeter-wave (mm-wave) signal without optical filter based on optical carrier suppression (OCS) and single-sideband (SSB). One intensity modulator (IM) driven by radio frequency (RF) signal at 50 GHz is firstly employed to generate two tones with channel spacing of 2 x RF frequency based on OCS. Another subsequent in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) modulator driven by RF signal at 30 GHz is then applied to generate SSB signal by using independent sideband (ISB). No optical filter is needed so that the whole system can be simplified. After using a D-band photomixer for detection, we finally generated the vector mm-wave at 130 GHz. Based on the proposed system, 4-Gbaud/8-Gbaud quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) information carried by the generated D-band mm-wave signals were transmitted over 22.5-km single model fiber (SMF) and 1-m wireless distance radio-over-fiber (ROF) link. Bit-error-ratio (BER) performances under hard/soft-decision forward-error-correction (FEC) threshold are shown respectively in cases of two different signals transmission rates.

Photonic generation of flexible and adjustable microwave waveforms based on a dual-polarization Mach-Zehnder modulator.

We have proposed a photonic waveform generation scheme based on a dual-polarization Mach-Zehnder modulator (DPol-MZM). In this scheme, a dual-frequency optical signal generated by RF optical carrier suppression modulation via a Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) is divided into two beams; one is further modulated by the RF signal via a DPol-MZM to generate ±1st and ±3rd-order sidebands, and the other is further modulated by the RF signal via a second MZM to generate ±2nd-order sidebands. After two modulated optical signals are detected by a balanced photodiode, the second, fourth, and sixth-order harmonics without cross-beating terms are generated in the differential photocurrent. Since the harmonic amplitudes can be controlled independently by the optical power of the two optical beams and the DC biases of the DPol-MZM, the waveforms can be tuned conveniently. Based on the simulation, frequency-doubled triangular, rectangular, and sawtooth waveforms with a full-duty cycle at a repetition rate of 20 GHz are successfully generated with their harmonic amplitude ratio in the electric spectrum close to the ideal amplitude ratio, and the symmetry of the triangular waveform from 20% to 80% is tuned.

Dual-Wavelength Light Source Assisted Frequency Response Measurement Method of Photodetectors

Dual-wavelength light source assisted frequency response measurement of photodetectors based on double-sideband suppressed-carrier modulation is proposed in this letter. In this method, a directly modulated laser with a modulation frequency of f <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">1</sub> combined with an optical tunable filter is used to generate a dual-wavelength carrier, which can be highly stable since only one light source is introduced. The dual-wavelength carrier generates two pairs of first-order sidebands under double-sideband suppressed-carrier modulation of the Mach-Zehnder modulator at frequency f <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">m</sub> . Afterwards, the modulated signal is injected into the photodetector under test, and the frequency response of the photodetector can be extracted by recording the electric power at specific frequencies. Based on this method, we used a 35-GHz modulator to measure the frequency response of photodetectors with bandwidth of 15 GHz and 43.5 GHz respectively. Moreover, a comparison of the results is performed between our method, the swept frequency method, and electro-absorption modulator deduction method. The results show that the new method extends the frequency response measurement range from f <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">m</sub> to f <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">1</sub> +2f <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">m</sub> , and the influence of the modulator on the frequency response measurement results is reduced simultaneously.

Research on polarization insensitive AOWC system for 40Gbps 16QAM-OFDM based on wide optical comb generation self-pumping structure

In this paper, we proposed a 40Gbps 16QAM-OFDM polarization insensitive all-optical wavelength conversion (AOWC) system based on self-pumping structure of wide optical comb. In this scheme, the carrier suppression modulation is carried out by a laser with Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) to generate a wide comb with only 3 dB odd sidebands flatness. By changing the frequency selection of the optical comb, the signal light and two pump lights are generated by the system itself. The analytical results show that the frequency selection of the optical comb and comb flatness can affect the performance of the system. The smaller the frequency interval among three lights selected as signal light and two pump lights are, the smoother the comb is, the better the system performance is. We have also numerically demonstrated that the system performance is best when the frequency interval is minimum, and with the increase of flatness, the system performance gradually decreases. The simulation results can be agreed with the theoretical analyses, the constellation of 40 Gb/s 16QAM-OFDM signal can be seen clearly and the bit error rate of the system can up to 1.26×10- 4. In addition, the effects of injection current of SOA and linewidth of continuous wave (CW) on system performance are also discussed. The proposed system can be a candidate to realize polarization insensitive by the parallel pump lights and signal light from this self-pumping structure, it has the characteristic that the amplitude phase noise conversion can be neglected.

High Rate CV-QKD Secured Mobile WDM Fronthaul for Dense 5G Radio Networks

A coherent transmission methodology for a continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) system based on quantum-heterodyne measurement through a coherent intradyne receiver is experimentally demonstrated in the framework of 5G mobile fronthaul links. Continuous optical carrier synchronization is obtained through training information, which is multiplexing to the quantum signal as pilot tone in both, frequency and polarization. Spectral tailoring by means of optical carrier suppression and single-sideband modulation is adopted to simultaneously mitigate crosstalk into the quantum channel and self-interference for the pilot tone, thus allowing for a high signal-to-noise ratio for this training signal. Frequency offset correction and optical phase estimation for the free-running local oscillator of the receiver is accurately performed and guarantees low-noise quantum signal reception at high symbol rates of 250 MHz and 500 MHz with additional Nyquist pulse shaping. A low excess noise in the order of 0.1% to 0.5% of shot-noise units is obtained for fiber-based transmission over a fronthaul link reach of 13.2 km. Moreover, co-existence with 11 carrier-grade classical signals is experimentally investigated. Joint signal transmission in the C-band of both, quantum signal and classical signals, is successfully demonstrated. Secure-key rates of 18 and 10 Mb/s are obtained under strict security assumptions, where Eve has control of the receiver noise, for a dark and a lit fiber link, respectively. Moreover, rates of 85 and 72 Mb/s are resulting for a trusted receiver scenario. These secure-key rates are well addressing the requirements for time-shared CV-QKD system in densified 5G radio access networks with cloud-based processing.