Generalized analysis of subcarrier multiplexing in dispersive fiber-optic links using Mach-Zehnder external modulator

A new exact analytical model is presented to analyze the dispersive transmission in subcarrier multiplexing (SCM) fiber-optic links using dual-drive Mach-Zehnder external modulator (DD-MZM). The model is very general and can be applied to almost all operating conditions of DD-MZM, such as bias point, drive level, phase shift, and modulation index difference between DD-MZM drives. The model results in simple, new, and closed-form expressions for output power spectrum, permitting an accurate and fast analysis of such links. Two special cases, double sideband (DSB) and single-sideband (SSB) modulation, are studied in detail. Some important system parameters, such as 1-dB compression point, the input third-order intercept point (IIP3), and the system capacity, are derived for the first time. Measured results for system capacity and intermodulation products of different orders match very well with the calculated results.