Louis Christen

Theoretical and Experimental Investigations of Direct-Detected RF-Tone-Assisted Optical OFDM Systems

In this paper, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a radio frequency (RF)-tone-assisted optical orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) transmission. By inserting an RF tone at the edge of the signal band and biasing the Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) at the null point, the proposed system has a better sensitivity and chromatic dispersion (CD) tolerance compared to the previous intensity-modulated single-sideband OFDM (SSB-OFDM). We show analytically that the majority of the linear channel impairments, such as the transmitter, CD, optical filtering, and receiver, can be compensated for by a simple zero-forcing equalizer. Besides, the optimum value of the important parameter, carrier-to-signal-power ratio (CSPR), is analytically obtained and supported via the experimental results. We also observe that the relatively worse sensitivity of the previous SSB-OFDM can be attributed to the limited CSPR. We experimentally demonstrate a 10-Gb/s, 8 quadrature-amplitude modulation (QAM) RF-tone-assisted OFDM transmission, and show that our system has a ~ 5-dB better sensitivity compared to the previous intensity-modulated SSB-OFDM and exhibits a negligible transmission penalty after 260-km uncompensated standard single-mode fiber (SSMF).

Spectrally efficient direct-detected OFDM transmission employing an iterative estimation and cancellation technique.

We demonstrate a linearly field-modulated, direct-detected virtual SSB-OFDM (VSSB-OFDM) transmission with an RF tone placed at the edge of the signal band. By employing the iterative estimation and cancellation technique for the signal-signal beat interference (SSBI) at the receiver, our approach alleviates the need of the frequency gap, which is typically reserved for isolating the SSBI, and saves half the electrical bandwidth, thus being very spectrally efficient. We derive the theoretical model for the VSSB-OFDM system and detail the signal processing for the iterative approach conducted at the receiver. Possible limitations for this iterative approach are also given and discussed. We successfully transmit a 10 Gbps, 4-quadrature-amplitude-modulation (QAM) VSSB-OFDM signal through 340 km of uncompensated standard single mode fiber (SSMF) with almost no penalty. In addition, the simulated results show that the proposed scheme has an approximately 2 dB optical-signal-to-noise-ratio (OSNR) gain and has a better chromatic dispersion (CD) tolerance compared with the previous intensity-modulated SSB-OFDM system.

Independent and Simultaneous Monitoring of Chromatic and Polarization-Mode Dispersion in OOK and DPSK Transmission

We propose and demonstrate a novel technique for a simultaneous chromatic and first-order polarization-mode-dispersion (PMD) monitoring method using a partial bit delay Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) with radio-frequency (RF) clock tone monitoring. RF clock tones at the output of the two branches of the MZI behave oppositely with increasing chromatic dispersion (CD) which improves the sensitivity of the measurement. The technique increases CD monitoring sensitivity over standard clock tone methods by a factor of two for a nonreturn-to-zero intensity modulation format and a factor of five for a differential-phase-shift-keying modulation format. The accuracy of PMD monitoring is also enhanced. Moreover, the partial bit delay allows the signal to pass through the constructive branch of the MZI with no observable degradation of the signal quality, allowing it to be normally detected by a receiver

All-optical XOR gate using polarization rotation in single highly nonlinear fiber

We demonstrate a 10-Gb/s all-optical XOR gate based on polarization rotation induced by Kerr effect in a single highly nonlinear fiber (HNLF). Using 2 km of HNLF with a nonlinear coefficient of 9.1 W/sup -1//spl middot/km/sup -1/, we obtain a 25-dB extinction ratio at the XOR output.

Free spectral range optimization of return-to-zero differential phase shift keyed demodulation in the presence of chromatic dispersion.

Optical differential phase shift keying is normally demodulated in a delay-line interferometer with a 1-bit delay such that the free-spectral-range of the demodulator is equal to the transmitted bitrate. We show using Karkunen-Loeve expansion simulation that free-spectral-range optimization leads to increased chromatic dispersion tolerances. The optimized delay inversely scales with the amount of chromatic dispersion such that a delay slightly shorter than the bit period increases tolerances with no adverse effect on the polarization-mode-dispersion tolerance or frequency offset penalty at the receiver.

Experimental Demonstration of a Coherently Modulated and Directly Detected Optical OFDM System Using an RF-Tone Insertion

We experimentally demonstrate an RF-tone assisted OFDM transmission. Our system has a 5-dB better sensitivity compared to the conventional baseband SSB-OFDM and exhibits a negligible penally transmission after 260 km of SSMF.

Simultaneous and Independent Monitoring of OSNR, Chromatic and Polarization Mode Dispersion for NRZ-OOK, DPSK and Duobinary

We demonstrate experimentally and through simulations a simultaneous and independent monitoring of CD, PMD and OSNR using a frac14-bit delay Mach- Zehnder interferometer for NRZ-OOK, DPSK and Duobinary modulation formats.

Greatly increased fiber transmission distance with an optically injection-locked vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser

We demonstrate single-mode fiber transmission distance enhancement up to 120 km of a directly-modulated injection-locked VCSEL modulated by a 10Gb/s NRZ signal. Injection locking induced data pattern inversion of the VCSEL causes adjustable chirp, which greatly extends reach. Both experiments and simulations are shown to explain this phenomenon.

Tunable 105 ns optical delay for 80 Gb/s RZ-DQPSK, 40 Gb/s RZ-DPSK, and 40 Gb/s RZ-OOK signals using wavelength conversion and chromatic dispersion

We demonstrate a variable, optical-delay element using tunable wavelength conversion in a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide, dispersion-compensating fiber and intrachannel dispersion compensation. A delay of up to 105 ns is demonstrated using 80 Gb/s return-to-zero differential-quadrature phase-shift keying, 40 Gb/s return-to-zero differential phase-shift keying, and 40 Gb/s return-to-zero on-off keying modulation formats. Bit-error rates <10−9 are demonstrated for each waveform at various delay settings.

Experimental Demonstration of 340 km SSMF Transmission Using a Virtual Single Sideband OFDM Signal that Employs Carrier Suppressed and Iterative Detection Techniques

We propose and demonstrate a virtual SSB-OFDM with direct detection that uses half the electrical bandwidth by employing an RF tone at the edge of the signal. We transmit 10 Gbps data with a 4-QAM over 340 km of SSMF with no penalty.