120-GBaud 16-QAM silicon photonics IQ modulator for data center interconnection.

We demonstrated all-silicon IQ modulators (IQMs) operating at 120-GBaud 16-QAM with suitable bandwidth, and output power. We required optical signal-to-noise-ratio (rOSNR) that have promising potential to be used in 800-Gbps small-form-factor pluggable transceivers for data center interconnection. First, we tested an IQM chip using discrete drivers and achieved a per-polarization TX output power of -18.74 dBm and an rOSNR of 23.51 dB over a 100-km standard SMF. Notably, a low BER of 1.4e-3 was obtained using our SiP IQM chip without employing nonlinear compensation, optical equalization, or an ultra-wide-bandwidth, high-ENOB OMA. Furthermore, we investigated the performance of a 3D packaged transmitter by emulating its frequency response using an IQM chip, discrete drivers, and a programmable optical filter. With a laser power of 17 dBm, we achieved a per-polarization output power of -15.64 dBm and an rOSNR of 23.35 dB.

Impact of laser flicker noise and linewidth on 64 to 96 Gbaud/DP-nQAM metro coherent optical links.

We experimentally investigate the impact of laser flicker noise and linewidth on 64 Gbaud/DP-64QAM, 96 Gbaud/DP-32QAM and 64 or 96 Gbaud/DP-16QAM links. To give a more practical viewpoint, the examined flicker noise closely follows that of an industry forum (OIF 400ZR). We have found that higher modulation order (e.g., 64QAM) is sensitive to phase noise from the linewidth and flicker noise, even in the back to back case. Significant optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) and cycle slip rate penalties can also be observed with a transmission distance $ {\gt} {200}\;{\rm km}$>200km for both 64QAM and 32QAM signals, which mainly comes from equalization-enhanced phase noise. Moreover, with the increasing of transmission distances, the effective linewidth of a tunable laser with a higher flicker noise and higher linewidth (210 KHz) increases significantly, while it remains unchanged for an external cavity laser (ECL) with 47-kHz linewidth. The result indicates the importance of more stringent flicker noise and linewidth requirement for future ultrabaud rate transmissions.

20-Gbps WDM-PON transmissions employing weak-resonant-cavity FPLD with OFDM and SC-FDE modulation formats.

Using a colorless weak-resonant-cavity (WRC) FPLD injected by a centralized light source, we have experimentally demonstrated a superior performance of 20-Gbps uplink transmission in a WDM-PON. Even though the typical modulation bandwidth of a WRC-FPLD is only ~1.25 GHz, using spectrally-efficient 32-QAM OFDM or SC-FDE modulation, 20-Gbps uplink signals can achieve the FEC limit after 25-km dispersion-uncompensated single-mode fiber transmission. Because of the advantage of lower PAPR, the SC-FDE signals outperform the OFDM signals with the fixed 32-QAM format in the proposed system; moreover, SC-FDE scheme can be another promising candidate for uplinks in WDM-PONs, for its simplification to ONUs. The signal at the mode of 1560.7 nm shows similar quality with the signal at the modes of 1545.3 nm and 1574.7 nm, the WRC-FPLD, accordingly, has wide injection wavelength range from at least 1545.3 nm to 1574.7 nm. With the mode spacing of 0.55 nm, consequently, we have demonstrated the applicability of the colorless WRC-FPLD on supporting up to 36 channels in the WDM-PON.

2 × 2 MIMO radio-over-fiber system at 60 GHz employing frequency domain equalization.

This work experimentally demonstrates the efficacy of the 2 × 2 multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technique for capacity improvement of a 60-GHz radio-over-fiber (RoF) system employing single-carrier modulation format. We employ frequency domain equalization (FDE) to estimate the channel response, including frequency response of the 60 GHz RoF system and the MIMO wireless channel. Using FDE and MIMO techniques, we experimentally demonstrate the doubling the of wireless data capacity of a 60 GHz RoF system to 27.15 Gb/s using 16-QAM modulation format, with transmission over 25 km of standard single-mode fiber and 3 m wireless distance.

Transmission of 20-Gb/s OFDM signals occupying 7-GHz license-free band at 60 GHz using a RoF system employing frequency sextupling optical up-conversion.

This work describes a proposed 60-GHz radio-over-fiber (RoF) system employing a frequency sextupling optical up-conversion scheme. Based on the modified single sideband modulation scheme, spectrally efficient vector signals were transmitted with no performance degradation due to dispersion-induced fading. Wavelength-division- multiplexed optical up-conversion can be realized using the proposed system. Since the required transmitter bandwidth is significantly reduced, radio-frequency components with lower bandwidth and higher reliability can be utilized. Both 13.75-Gb/s QPSK-OFDM and 20.625-Gb/s 8QAM-OFDM signals were experimentally demonstrated. After transmission over 25-km of standard single mode fiber, no significant received power penalty was observed.

A Full duplex radio-over-fiber linkwith Multi-level OFDM signal via a single-electrode MZM and wavelength reuse with aRSOA.

This work demonstrates the feasibility of a full duplex Radio-over-fiber (RoF) link employing multi-level OFDM signal via a single-electrode Mach-Zehnder modulator and wavelength reuse for uplink utilizing a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA). A High spectral efficiency 5-Gb/s 16-QAM OFDM signal with frequency multiplication for the RoF downstream link is demonstrated, and negligible penalty is achieved after 25-km standard single mode fiber transmission. Furthermore, wavelength reuse for a 1.25-Gb/s OOK signal via a RSOA for the upstream link is also demonstrated with a receiver penalty of less than 0.5 dB following 25-km SMF transmission.

Photonic vector signal generation employing a novel optical direct-detection in-phase/quadrature-phase upconversion.

This work demonstrates the feasibility of the generation of an RF direct-detection vector signal using optical in-phase/quadrature-phase (I/Q) upconversion. The advantage of the proposed transmitter is that no electrical mixer is needed to generate the RF signal. Therefore, I/Q data of RF signals are processed at baseband at the transmitter, which is independent of the carrier frequency of the generated RF signal. A 10 Gb/s 16 quadrature amplitude modulation signal is experimentally demonstrated. Following transmission over a 50 km single-mode fiber, the power penalty is negligible. Moreover, I/Q imbalance of the proposed transmitter is studied and compensated by digital signal processing, which is both numerically and experimentally verified.

Full duplex 60-GHz RoF link employing tandem single sideband modulation scheme and high spectral efficiency modulation format.

This study proposes a full duplex 60-GHz band radio-over-fiber (RoF) link using a modified tandem single sideband (TSSB) modulation scheme with frequency doubling. Based on the modified TSSB modulation scheme, no dispersion induced fading is observed; high spectral efficiency vector signal can be utilized; and wavelength reuse can also be achieved. Both single carrier 8-QAM and QPSK-OFDM signals for down-link transmissions are experimentally demonstrated. After transmission of 50-km SSMF, no significant receiver power penalties are observed. Wavelength reuses with 1.25-Gb/s OOK using a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA) for up-link transmission are also demonstrated. After transmission of 50-km SSMF, no significant receiver power penalties are also observed.

A continuously tunable and filterless optical millimeter-wave generation via frequency octupling.

This work proposes a cost-effective, continuously tunable and filterless optical millimeter-wave (MMW) signal generation employing frequency octupling. Optical MMW signals with 30-dB undesired sideband suppression ratios can be obtained. Since no optical filtering is required, the proposed system can be readily implemented in wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) systems. V-band 60-GHz and W-band 80-GHz optical MMW signals are experimentally demonstrated. Because of the high undesired sideband suppression ratio, 60-GHz waveform with 50% duty cycle is observed. The single-sideband (SSB) phase noise of the generated 60-GHz signal is -73 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz. The proposed system is a viable solution for the future ultra-high frequency MMW applications up to 320 GHz using the external modulator with a limited bandwidth of 40 GHz.

WDM up-conversion employing frequency quadrupling in optical modulator.

This work presents an optical up-conversion system with frequency quadrupling for wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) communication systems using a dual-parallel Mach-Zehnder modulator without optical filtering. Four-channel 1.25-Gb/s wired fiber-to-the-x (FTTx) and wireless radio-over-fiber (RoF) signals are generated and transmitted simultaneously. Moreover, the decline in receiver sensitivities due to Mach-Zehnder modulator bias drifts is also investigated. Receiver power penalties of the 20-GHz up-converted WDM signals and baseband (BB) FTTx signals are less than 1 dB when bias deviation voltage is less the 20% of the half-wave voltage. After transmission over a 50-km SSMF, the receiver power penalties of both the BB and 20-GHz RF OOK signals are less than 1 dB. Notably, 60-GHz optical up-conversion can be achieved using 15-GHz radio frequency (RF) components and equipment.

RF phase shifter using a distributed feedback laser in microwave transport systems.

This work experimentally demonstrates the efficacy of a radio-frequency phase shifter using a distributed feedback laser in a microwave transport system. Phase shifts of about 101 degrees are obtained at 8.75 GHz. The proposed phase shifter can amplify microwave signals and thereby improve transmission performance. Additionally, a similar single sideband modulation can be generated by the phase shifter. Experimental results indicate that the proposed phase shifter can be used in future long-distance microwave transport systems and all optical inverters.

Photonic vector signal generation at microwave/millimeter-wave bands employing an optical frequency quadrupling scheme.

To the best of our knowledge, a novel photonic architecture to generate vector signals at microwave/millimeter-wave bands employing an optical frequency quadrupling technique based on an external dual-parallel modulator is proposed for the first time. A 312.5 MSym/s quadruple phase-shift keying signal at 25 GHz is experimentally demonstrated using properly precoding driving signal at 6.25 GHz, and optical power penalty is negligible following 50 km single-mode fiber transmission.