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Optical frequency comb generation based on dual-parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator and intensity modulator with RF frequency multiplication circuit

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Abstract

A new method of generating optical frequency comb by cascading a single dual-parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator and two intensity modulators is proposed. The intensity modulators are modulated by a frequency multiplication circuit of radio frequency. Theoretical model of the system is derived, and optical frequency comb with ultra-flatness and high side-mode suppression ratio can be obtained. The study results show that 72-line optical frequency comb with spectrum power variation of 0.26 dB, SMSR of 21 dB and frequency space of 4 GHz is gotten easily by adjusting the amplitude of radio frequency signal and the direct current bias of the modulators. The simulation result is in good agreement with the theoretical analysis model.

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (61132004, 61275073, 61420106011), and Shanghai Science and Technology Development Funds (15511105400, 15530500600, 16511104100).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Specialty Fiber Optics and Optical Access Networks, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200072, China

    Tingting Zhang & Shibao Wu

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  1. Tingting Zhang
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  2. Shibao Wu
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Correspondence to Shibao Wu.

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Zhang, T., Wu, S. Optical frequency comb generation based on dual-parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator and intensity modulator with RF frequency multiplication circuit. Photon Netw Commun 36, 256–262 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11107-018-0777-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11107-018-0777-5

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