DocumentCode :
1527262
Title :
Optimizing the bias and modulation voltages of MQW Mach-Zehnder modulators for 10 Gb/s transmission on nondispersion shifted fiber
Author :
Cartledge, John C.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Queen´´s Univ., Kingston, Ont., Canada
Volume :
17
Issue :
7
fYear :
1999
fDate :
7/1/1999 12:00:00 AM
Firstpage :
1142
Lastpage :
1151
Abstract :
The chirp and optical extinction ratio of a multiple quantum-well (MQW) Mach-Zehnder modulator depend on the device design and on the voltage waveforms applied to the arm electrodes. For 10 Gb/s transmission over nondispersion shifted fiber, joint optimization of the bias and modulation voltages is considered for a conventional modulator and a π-phase-shift modulator. Measured attenuation and phase constants for an optical signal propagating in the modulator waveguide are used to accurately model the Mach-Zehnder modulators. The influence of asymmetric Y-branch waveguides in the modulators is examined taking into consideration group velocity dispersion and self-phase modulation arising from the Kerr nonlinearity. When the modulators are operated with maximum optical extinction ratio, the dispersion limited transmission distance depends on the device design (phase-shift and Y-branch splitting ratio) and modulation format (dual drive or single drive). Optimization of the bias and modulation voltages reduces this dependence significantly, while also increasing the dispersion limited transmission distance
Keywords :
chirp modulation; electro-optical modulation; optical Kerr effect; optical communication equipment; optical design techniques; optical fibre dispersion; optical waveguides; optimisation; self-phase modulation; semiconductor quantum wells; π-phase-shift modulator; 10 Gbit/s; Gb/s transmission; Kerr nonlinearity; MQW Mach-Zehnder modulators; Y-branch splitting ratio; arm electrodes; asymmetric Y-branch waveguides; bias voltage optimisation; chirp modulation; device design; dispersion limited transmission distance; dual drive; group velocity dispersion; joint optimization; maximum optical extinction ratio; modulation format; modulation voltages; nondispersion shifted fiber; optical extinction ratio; optical signal propagation; phase constants; self-phase modulation; single drive; voltage waveforms; Chirp modulation; Extinction ratio; Fiber nonlinear optics; Nonlinear optics; Optical attenuators; Optical devices; Optical modulation; Optical waveguides; Quantum well devices; Voltage;
fLanguage :
English
Journal_Title :
Lightwave Technology, Journal of
Publisher :
ieee
ISSN :
0733-8724
Type :
jour
DOI :
10.1109/50.774246
Filename :
774246
Link To Document :
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