Optical vector analysis based on asymmetrical optical double-sideband modulation using a dual-drive dual-parallel...

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Optical Engineering
• Electromagnetics and Wave Propagation
• Materials Science and Engineering

Background:

• Optical Vector Analysis (OVA) is crucial for characterizing optical systems.
• Conventional OVA methods face limitations in measurement range and complexity.
• Existing optical double-sideband (ODSB) based OVA techniques require complex configurations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel, simplified OVA approach.
• To enhance the measurement range compared to traditional optical single sideband modulation (OSSB) methods.
• To investigate the impact of optical carrier generation imperfections on measurement accuracy.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing carrier-shifted optical double-sideband (ODSB) modulation.
• Employing a dual-drive dual-parallel Mach-Zehnder modulator (DD-DPMZM) for modulation.
• Measuring the transmission response of a sampled fiber Bragg grating over an 80 GHz range.

Main Results:

• Achieved a doubled measurement range compared to conventional OSSB-based OVA.
• Demonstrated a simpler and more robust configuration than previous ODSB-based OVA.
• Obtained a measurement resolution of less than 667 kHz using 40-GHz microwave components.
• Confirmed the absence of undesirable spikes in measurement results.

Conclusions:

• The proposed ODSB-based OVA method provides significant advantages in measurement range and system simplicity.
• The technique is robust and accurate, suitable for precise characterization of optical components like fiber Bragg gratings.
• Understanding the influence of carrier generation is key to optimizing measurement fidelity.