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Photonic ultrawideband monocycle pulse generation using a single electro-optic modulator.
Jianqiang Li1, Songnian Fu, Kun Xu
1Key Laboratory of Optical Communication and Lightwave Technologies, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, China. jqjqlee@gmail.com
Optics Letters
|February 5, 2008
Summary
Researchers developed a simple photonic method for generating ultrawideband (UWB) monocycle pulses using a Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM). This technique efficiently produces polarity-reversed UWB pulses, beneficial for various applications.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Optoelectronics
- Ultrawideband (UWB) Systems
Background:
- Ultrawideband (UWB) monocycle pulses are crucial for high-data-rate wireless communication and radar systems.
- Generating these pulses efficiently and compactly remains a challenge in optical communications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and demonstrate a compact photonic approach for generating ultrawideband (UWB) monocycle pulses.
- To leverage the wavelength dependence of a Mach-Zehnder modulator's (MZM) half-wave voltage for pulse generation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a single Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) with dual-wavelength injection at 1310 nm and 1550 nm.
- Exploited the wavelength-dependent half-wave voltage characteristic of the MZM for optical modulation.
Main Results:
- Successfully generated a pair of polarity-reversed monocycle pulses.
- Achieved a pulse width of approximately 80 picoseconds (ps) and a fractional bandwidth exceeding 160%.
- Experimental results closely matched theoretical predictions.
Conclusions:
- The proposed compact approach offers a convenient method for generating UWB monocycle pulses.
- The ability to control pulse polarity is advantageous for future UWB system applications.
