Open AccessReal-time complex temporal response measurements of ultrahigh-speed optical modulators
Author(s) -
Yongwoo Park,
Tae-Jung Ahn,
José Azaña
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.17.001734
Subject(s) - bandwidth (computing) , optics , waveform , temporal resolution , computer science , interferometry , phase modulation , modulation (music) , frequency modulation , physics , acoustics , telecommunications , radar , phase noise
We demonstrate a technique for direct, real-time characterization of the complex (amplitude and phase) temporal response of ultrahigh-speed (GHz-bandwidth) optical modulators. The demonstrated technique is based on pulse interferometry combined with time-frequency mapping processes using fiber linear dispersion. A new mechanism is incorporated to overcome the temporal resolution (bandwidth) limitation of the detectable modulation response in our previously reported setup. This mechanism, referred to as 'common-path temporal image magnification', lowers the required detection bandwidth by a factor of more than 10, enabling real-time single-shot waveform acquisition without loss of information using a conventional temporal digitizer. The design specifications of the proposed measurement setup are derived and discussed in detail. As a proof-of-concept experiment, real-time characterization of a complex electro-op c modulation temporal response with time features as fast as approximately 35 ps (modulation bandwidth > 40-GHz) was obtained and displayed at a video rate of 30 frames/sec.