High-frequency characterization of high-speed modulators and photodetectors in a link with low-speed photonic sampling

Abstract

We propose a low-speed photonic sampling for independent high-frequency characterization of a Mach–Zehnder modulator (MZM) and a photodetector (PD) in an optical link. A low-speed mode-locked laser diode (MLLD) provides an ultra-wideband optical stimulus with scalable frequency range, working as the photonic sampling source of the link. The uneven spectrum lines of the MLLD are firstly characterized with symmetric modulation within the interesting frequency range. Then, the electro-optic modulated signals are down-converted to the first Nyquist frequency range, yielding the self-referenced extraction of modulation depth and half-wave voltage of the MZM without correcting the responsivity fluctuation of the PD in the link. Finally, the frequency responsivity of the PD is self-referenced measured under null modulation of the MZM. As frequency responses of the MZM and the PD can be independently obtained, our method allows self-referenced high-frequency measurement for a high-speed optical link. In the proof-of-concept experiment, a 96.9 MS/s MLLD is used for measuring a MZM and a PD within the frequency range up to 50 GHz. The consistency between our method and the conventional method verifies that the ultra-wideband and self-referenced high-frequency characterization of high-speed MZMs and PDs.

Suppression Method of Optical Noises in Resonator-Integrated Optic Gyroscopes

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Compact optical convolution processing unit based on multimode interference

“…However, in present schemes, mainly based upon the von Neumann computing paradigm, there is an inherent trade-off between the data exchange speed and the energy consumption; this is mainly because in these schemes, the memory and process unit are separated [8][9][10][11] .Optical neural networks (ONNs) are regarded as promising candidates for the next generation of neuromorphic hardware processors. Photonics devices have low interconnect loss and can overcome the bandwidth bottleneck of their electrical counterparts to achieve ultrahigh computing bandwidth up to 10 THz [12][13][14][15][16][17] . Additionally, the light transmission in the ONN simultaneously implements data processing, which effectively avoids data tidal transmission in the von Neumann computing paradigm.…”

“…Optical neural networks (ONNs) are regarded as promising candidates for the next generation of neuromorphic hardware processors. Photonics devices have low interconnect loss and can overcome the bandwidth bottleneck of their electrical counterparts to achieve ultrahigh computing bandwidth up to 10 THz [12][13][14][15][16][17] . Additionally, the light transmission in the ONN simultaneously implements data processing, which effectively avoids data tidal transmission in the von Neumann computing paradigm.…”