| 摘要 |
A dual stage optical modulator is disclosed that uses optical predistortion to achieve a high degree of linearity and also provides signals having substantially no residual phase modulation, or chirp. The modulator allows fiber optic transmission over fibers having a zero dispersion wavelength that is significantly different from the operating wavelength of the source laser without a chirp-induced dispersion penalty. In one embodiment of the modulator, an input Y-junction splits an optical input signal into a first interferometer, also referred to as a phase/intensity modulator, having first and second interferometer arms and an electrode structure for modulating the split signal. The electrode structure includes a pair of ground electrodes and a modulating electrode for receiving a first RF modulating voltage and associated DC bias. The modulating electrode is positioned between the interferometer arms but is offset from the center of the arms for providing a first asymmetric electro-optic effect through the introduction of intensity modulation and residual phase shift in the split signals. The split signals are then mixed in unequal proportions in a directional coupler and are separated into a second phase/intensity modulator that is substantially similar to the first, but which receives a second RF modulating voltage. The signals from the second phase/intensity modulator are again mixed in unequal proportions in a second directional coupler which couples the signals and provides first and second optical output signals. Linearization is achieved through optical predistortion by adjusting the DC biases and attenuating the second modulating voltage with respect to the first such that any distortion generated in the first interferometer is canceled in the second interferometer. Chirp introduced in the signals by the first interferometer is reduced in the second interferometer and directional couplers and is eliminated in at least one of the output signals by appropriately selecting the amount of asymmetric phase distortion applied to the signal in each stage. |
