Performance Analysis of a Multi-Function Mach-Zehnder Interferometer Based Photonic Architecture on SOI Acting as a Frequency Shifter

A photonic frequency shifter based on generalized Mach-Zehnder interferometer (GMZI) architecture is presented and experimentally validated. The circuit consists of four Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZM) in a 4 × 4 network bounded by two 4 × 4 multimode interference couplers and functionally equivalent to two parallel dual-parallel MZM (DP-MZM). The circuit can offer static bias free operation, virtual connectivity control of the components, and spatial separation of up- and down-converted carriers, which can be collected from separate ports without using any optical demultiplexing filters. Thus, the design permits remote heterodyning (advantages which cannot be obtained using a commercial DP-MZM or filter based optical frequency shifter). Experimental investigation shows deviation from ideal performance due to possible fabrication error and poor fiber-chip coupling. A carrier suppression of >20 dB and spurious sideband suppression >12 dB relative to the principal harmonics is achieved without any tuning for bias adjustment. In addition to the frequency conversion, the integration feasible circuit can also perform as a sub-carrier generator, IQ modulator, and frequency multiplier.

Performance analysis of a multi - function photonic architecture on SOI acting as a frequency shifter

A multi-functional photonic circuit implemented on silicon on insulator (SOI) platform is reported. Eight phase modulators are connected to provide four Mach-Zehnder interferometer structure in parallel. Multimode interference couplers are used as the splitter/combiner of the MZI structures to provide static DC bias. This architecture generates two principle spatially separated 1^st order harmonics from a single light source, which may be collected from separate ports without using any optical demultiplexing filters which permits remote heterodyning. A carrier suppression of >20 dB and spurious sideband suppression > 12 dB relative to the principle harmonics is achieved with bias voltage tuning only. In addition to the frequency conversion, the circuit can also perform as a sub-carrier generator, IQ modulator and frequency multiplier.

Performance analysis of a multi - function photonic architecture on SOI acting as a frequency shifter

A multi-functional photonic circuit implemented on silicon on insulator (SOI) platform is reported. Eight phase modulators are connected to provide four Mach-Zehnder interferometer structure in parallel. Multimode interference couplers are used as the splitter/combiner of the MZI structures to provide static DC bias. This architecture generates two principle spatially separated 1^st order harmonics from a single light source, which may be collected from separate ports without using any optical demultiplexing filters which permits remote heterodyning. A carrier suppression of >20 dB and spurious sideband suppression > 12 dB relative to the principle harmonics is achieved with bias voltage tuning only. In addition to the frequency conversion, the circuit can also perform as a sub-carrier generator, IQ modulator and frequency multiplier.