Mohammad Abtahi

All-Optical 500-Mb/s UWB Transceiver: An Experimental Demonstration

We propose and demonstrate experimentally, for the first time, a prototype for all-optical ultra-wideband (UWB) transceiver at 500 Mb/s. We report 1) UWB pulse optimization that takes into account the transmitter RF front end and the U.S. federal communications commission (FCC) spectral mask, 2) a new approximate match filter receiver using optical signal processing, and 3) modulation at 500 Mb/s. Our previous optimization of UWB pulse shapes was based only on the FCC spectral mask, without taking into account the frequency response of the RF components (amplifier and antenna) in the UWB transmitter. Here, we modify our pulse optimization technique to ensure that the equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) from the transmitter meets FCC specifications. For the RF hardware used, we achieve 63.6% efficiency over the FCC mask, which yields an 11.6- and a 5.9-dB improvement over Gaussian monocycle and doublet pulses, respectively. We also introduce simple optical signal processing at the receiver that allows the incoming RF signal to be matched against a square pulse whose duration is adapted to the channel. The exact matched filter would require a new optimized pulse that would include not only hardware frequency response but channel effects that vary with antenna placement as well. The proposed approximation allows a simple variation of the pulse duration: an increase to account for pulse expansion in the channel but an upper limit to combat multipath effects. Finally, we demonstrate the optimized pulse and approximate match filter receiver at 500 M/s. We attain a 10-6bit error rate at a 65-cm separation line of sight (LOS) link with simple on-off keying and no forward error correction.

Generation of Power-Efficient FCC-Compliant UWB Waveforms Using FBGs: Analysis and Experiment

In this paper, we design, analyze, and demonstrate experimentally U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)- compliant power-efficient ultrawideband (UWB) waveforms generated by optical pulse shaping. The time-domain pulse shape is written in the frequency domain, and a single-mode fiber performs the frequency-to-time conversion. The waveform is inscribed in the frequency domain by the fiber Bragg grating (FBG). A significant challenge for this approach is elimination of an unwanted, positive rectangular pulse superimposed on the desired waveform. Our innovative use of balanced photodetection eliminates this pedestal, assuring compliance with the FCC mask at low frequency. Three UWB pulses with duration of 0.3,0.6, and 1.2 ns are designed and tested experimentally. Whereas an excellent match between the optimized and measured pulses is achieved for the simpler, shorter duration waveforms, the noise in the fabrication process of FBGs limits the generation of the more complex, longer duration waveforms.

Ultra-Wideband Waveform Generator Based on Optical Pulse-Shaping and FBG Tuning

We propose and demonstrate experimentally a prototype for ultra-wideband (UWB) waveform generator based on optical pulse shaping. The time-domain pulse shape is written in the frequency domain, and a single-mode fiber performs frequency-to-time conversion. A U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-compliant power efficient pulse shape is inscribed in the frequency domain by a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) with an excellent match between optimized and measured pulses. Two other popular UWB pulse shapes (Gaussian monocycle and doublet pulses) are achieved by proper tuning of two FBG-based variable optical filters. A balanced photodetector removes an unwanted rectangular pulse superimposed on the desired waveform, assuring compliance at low frequency.

Suppression of Turbulence-Induced Scintillation in Free-Space Optical Communication Systems Using Saturated Optical Amplifiers

A laboratory-simulated free-space optical link under various turbulence levels is implemented to propose and experimentally demonstrate the use of saturated optical amplifiers as a simple and efficient approach for suppression of scintillation due to atmospheric turbulence. The use of erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) or semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) requires the received signal be coupled into a fiber. The system performance of receiver structures employing a saturated EDFA and a SOA (in saturation and conversion modes) are measured and compared to that of fiberless direct detection (DD). It is shown that in higher turbulence levels, where no data transmission can be achieved by DD, remarkable eye opening results when using saturated amplifiers

Generation of Arbitrary UWB Waveforms by Spectral Pulse Shaping and Thermally-Controlled Apodized FBGs

We propose and experimentally demonstrate an arbitrary UWB pulse generator. The proposed technique is based on spectral pulse shaping and frequency-to-time conversion. The reconfigurability of this technique comes from changing the apodizaton of a chirped fiber Bragg grating (FBG) using a series of heating elements (HE). By setting the appropriate temperature set to the HEs, any predesigned UWB waveforms can be generated with high precision. The effective isotropically radiated power (EIRP)-optimized and U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-optimized pulses as well as the traditional Gaussian monocycle and doublet UWB waveforms are generated which are in excellent match with the designed target pulse shapes. While other arbitrary pulse generators have used similar strategies (spectral shaping and frequency-to-time conversion), ours uses inexpensive technologies with the potential for practical, compact packaging.

Balanced Detection of Correlated Incoherent Signals: A Statistical Analysis of Intensity Noise With Experimental Validation

We study the balanced detection of broadband incoherent optical signals-signals characterized by high-intensity noise. We consider signals generated from a single incoherent source with two types of correlation: identical spectra, but delayed in time, and overlapping, nonidentical spectra but zero time delay. Our statistical analysis yields equations for the probability density function (pdf) of the balanced detector output for partially correlated input signals based on easily measured system parameters (power spectral densities in one case, relative time delay in the other). Using analytical tools we derive expressions for output pdfs giving extremely good prediction of measured pdfs for signals with correlation coefficient up to 95%. The analytic expressions can be used to characterize system performance, in particular, bit error rate for communications systems.

Ultra-wideband pulse shaping: bypassing the inherent limitations of the Gaussian monocycle

UWB impulse radio transmissions are power limited as they must respect a frequency mask with low total permitted power and severe isolation requirements for the GPS band. Shaping of the short UWB impulse maximizes transmit power subject to these constraints. We have previously published results for intricate pulse shaping in the optical domain that achieves record levels of power transmission. The most successful pulse shaping techniques in the electrical domain have been achieved with derivatives of the Gaussian pulse shape. The Gaussian monocycle is a low performance choice in terms of transmit power, but nonetheless the subject of intense research activity. In this paper we compare and contrast these UWB pulses, and quantitatively compare their performance in realistic systems (specific RF and antenna hardware). There is the perception that failings in the pulse shape (especially for the monocycle) can be compensated by simple highpass filter and the bandpass nature of the UWB antenna. We fabricate and characterize two UWB antenna designs available in the literature, as well as one commercial antenna. We use our optical pulse shaping device to experimentally investigate the three different pulse shapes and measure their transmitted power spectral density with each of the UWB antennas. We find that the monocycle is significantly less powerful than the others. The fine pulse shaping available in optical processing provides 1.7 to 2.9 dB gain over the electrical processing methods, depending on the antenna used.

Pulse Shapes That Outperform Traditional UWB Antenna/Waveform Combinations

Traditionally the Gaussian monocycle pulse and its higher derivatives have been proposed and deployed as impulse radio ultra-wideband (IR-UWB) pulses. Although relatively easy to generate in electronics, these pulses are ill-adapted to the sharp cutoffs in the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mask. The combination of these pulses with passband UWB antennas with steep roll-off improves power efficiency vis-a-vis the FCC mask. This approach is still quite sub-optimal and pulse shaping can provide marked improvement (to 3 dB) over the best traditional combinations. We show that optimal design of UWB waveforms, when taking into account antenna gain profiles, improves the power efficiency of the pulses. Three typical antennas are considered. A nonlinear optimization process is used to design an efficient pulse for each antenna. The proposed optimization is based on the hybrid genetic algorithm and a sequential quadratic program. We demonstrate that this method finds efficient pulses under severe antenna distortion. Simulation results confirm that the optimally designed pulses have superior performance compared to the more common Gaussian monocycle and the Gaussian fifth-derivative pulse.

Wideband antenna EIRP measurements for various UWB waveforms

We experimentally investigate pulse shaping in the optical domain of ultra-wideband pulses and RF transmission via a wideband antenna. The effective isotropically radiated power (EIRP) is calculated based on the measured transmit power; the resultant power spectral density (PSD) is compared to the FCC (US Federal Communications Commission) power spectral mask for each of three generated pulse shapes: a Gaussian monocycle, a Gaussian doublet and a waveform adapted to the FCC spectral mask.

Mitigating of Scintillation Noise in FSO Communication Links using Saturated Optical Amplifiers

Saturated optical amplifiers in amplification and conversion schemes are used for suppression of turbulence noise in FSO links with high scintillation index. The PDF of logic-one and logic-zero levels are measured and compared with those of systems using the erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) and semi-conductor optical amplifier (SOA). The proposed receiver structure using saturated optical amplifiers causes a significant reduction in scintillation index and as a result, a reduction of BER up to three orders of magnitude is observed