Shuling Hu

Narrow-linewidth single-polarization frequency-modulated Er-doped fiber ring laser

We demonstrate a 1550-nm narrow-linewidth fiber ring laser with stable single polarization by using single-mode Er-doped fiber as active fiber and saturable absorber. A polarization-maintaining circulator is used to acquire single-polarization laser light with the degree of polarization of 99.8%-99.9%. The linewidth measured using a delayed self-heterodyne method is less than 0.5 kHz. Frequency of the fiber laser can be modulated by driving the waveguide phase modulator with proper voltage. A Mach-Zehnder interferometer with the optical path difference between two arms of about 36 km is used to study the long-distance coherent detection of the fiber laser for frequency-modulated continuous-wave application.

Harmonic distortion analysis of a Mach-Zehnder intensity modulator

With the aim to get harmonic distortion characteristics and frequency components of modulated output signals of a Mach-Zehnder (MZ) intensity modulator, this paper analyzes the optical intensity modulation transfer function by Tailor expandsion method according with the working principle of modulator. From the viewpoint of spectrum, the output signal is mainly comprised of the fundamental harmonic, the second intermodulation harmonic and the third intermodulation harmonic of the input signal and their magnitudes are connected with the bias voltage and Eigen-phase of MZ modulator. The second harmonic distortion and the fundamental harmonic of the modulated output signal are closely related with the drift of the best bias point. When the modulator works at the best DC bias voltage point, the modulated output signals have the minimum second harmonic distortion. If the best bias point drifts, the second harmonic distortion increases and the fundamental harmonic decreases, which changes in proportion to the sine or cosine of the drift voltage. A 1GHz sine signal with 1V amplitude imposed on the modulator, the simulation results by MATLAB presents that the waveform starts distorting along with the drifting of the best bias voltage, which the fundamental wave component starts decreasing and the second harmonic component starts increasing. While at last the fundamental wave component is zero, the frequency of output modulated signal doubles as much the frequency of input signal.

Microwave fiber delay line performance simulation research

The design, component selection, fabrication, testing, and evaluation of an optically-switched, binary, fiber optic programmable delay line are discussed. The basic building blocks, including laser diode which is based on a rate equation model, external modulated transmitter, transmission fiber and receiver, are explained. The system comprises eight delay stages, has a maximum delay of 6.4μs with a 100ps step and operates over the 1-18 GHz band. This computer controlled prototype used low-cost commercially available components in conjunction with graded-index, single-mode fiber. Its overall performance is satisfied with the simulation result.