High-performance SOA-based multiwavelength fiber lasers incorporating a novel double-pass waveguide-based MZI

In this paper, using a direct double-pass and a novel isolator-assisted double-pass waveguide-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI), high-performance SOA-based multiwavelength fiber lasers (MFL) are proposed and demonstrated experimentally. The filtering characteristics of the proposed isolator-assisted double-pass MZI are analyzed and examined theoretically in comparison with those of the single-pass and direct double-pass MZI. Using a direct double-pass waveguide-based MZI with the single-pass free spectral range (FSR) of 43 GHz, up to 115- and 104-channel simultaneous oscillations spaced at 21.5 GHz in the L-band and C-band are obtained, respectively, with a power non-uniformity of less than 3 dB and an extinction ratio of ∼30 dB. To the best of our knowledge, it is the highest lasing-channel count that has been achieved from an SOA-based MFL. To enhance the extinction ratio while maintaining the FSR, the proposed isolator-assisted double-pass MZI is then utilized in the laser cavity, and a stable 55-wavelength simultaneous oscillation spaced at 43 GHz is accordingly achieved in C-band with an extinction ratio of higher than 50 dB. Compared with the lasing linewidth of 0.058 nm with the conventional single-pass MZI, narrower linewidths of 0.038 and 0.028 nm are obtained with the isolator-assisted and direct double-pass MZI configurations, respectively. The lasers are stable with a maximum power fluctuation per channel of less than 0.8 dB during an hour’s test.     

Mach-Zehnder interferometer switch with a high extinction ratio over a wide wavelength range

We have realized a novel Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) thermo-optic switch that can operate over a much wider wavelength range than a conventional MZI switch. We constructed the novel MZI switch by incorporating a phase-generating coupler (PGC) as an optical coupler. The PGC generates a nonlinear wavelength-dependent phase, which functions as a virtual wavelength-dependent delay part that cancels out the wavelength dependence of a MZI. We fabricated the novel MZI switch on a silica-based planar light-wave circuit and achieved a low insertion loss of less than 1.6 dB and a high extinction ratio of 30 dB over a wide wavelength range of 160 nm.     

A tunable and switchable single-longitudinal-mode dual-wavelength fiber laser incorporating a reconfigurable dual-pass Mach-Zehnder interferometer and its application in microwave generation

A tunable and switchable single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) dual-wavelength fiber laser incorporating a reconfigurable dual-pass Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) filter was proposed and demonstrated, which can be applied in microwave generation. By incorporating a high extinction ratio (ER) dual-pass MZI into an erbium-doped fiber ring cavity, SLM dual-wavelength lasing can be achieved even using a MZI with relatively little free spectrum range (FSR), and by beating the two wavelengths at a photodetector, a 9.76 GHz microwave signal with a 3-dB bandwidth of less than 10 kHz is obtained. Moreover, by direct linking the two outputs of the MZI, the high ER dual-pass MZI is easily reconfigured as a half FSR dual-pass MZI. Using this structure, switchable SLM dual-wavelength lasing can be conveniently realized.     

82-channel multi-wavelength comb generation in a SOA fiber ring laser

We demonstrate a multi-wavelength semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) fiber ring laser with a dual-pass Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) filter. Two SOAs with different gain spectra provide sufficient gain and a wider gain spectrum to facilitate multi-wavelength lasing. The dual-pass MZI, configured by adding an optical isolator to the two outputs of the conventional MZI, serves as comb filter for multi-wavelength operation, and its extinction ratio can be enhanced to twofold as that of the conventional MZI in the same parameters. To investigate the influences of a dual-pass MZI filter and a conventional MZI filter on multi-wavelength operation, two different cavity configurations are presented and compared, including a single-SOA ring cavity and a double-SOA ring cavity. Stable simultaneous operation at 82 wavelengths, with a wavelength spacing of 40 GHz and a power deviation of 5 dB, and with a minimum optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) of 28 dB, is observed from the double-SOA ring cavity using a dual-pass MZI filter.     

Hybrid Mach-Zehnder interferometer and knot resonator based on silica microfibers

We propose and demonstrate an all-fiber high Q Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI)-coupled microknot resonator (MZKR) structure using optical microfibers drawn from silica fibers. The experimental results show that this microfiber-based structure achieved a high Q factor of ∼ 15,000 and good interference fringes with extinction ratio of up to ∼ 15 dB. By optimizing the loop-length of the microfiber knot and the optical path-difference of the MZI, the desired MZKR with higher Q factor and better extinction ratio could be obtained. A series of integrated all-fiber optical devices could be realized based on such a MZKR structure due to its outstanding advantages of easy fabrication, great flexibility, low cost, low loss, etc.     

Refractometer based on a tapered Mach–Zehnder interferometer with Peanut-Shape structure

A novel refractometer based on tapered Mach–Zehnder modal interferometer (MZI) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. This sensor is composed of a pair of Peanut-Shape structures and an embedded taper – the former excites high-order cladding modes, while the latter enhances the evanescent field. As the effective refractive index (RI) of cladding is based on the changes of surrounding RI, thus extinction ratio will change due to the alteration of the distribution of power in the fiber which is induced by various differences of core and cladding for RI. As a result, the maximum RI sensitivity of 240.78 extinction ratio/RIU (refractive index unit) is achieved within the range from 1.3334 to 1.4081.     

Ultrafast all-optical XOR logic gate based on a symmetrical Mach-Zehnder interferometer employing SOI waveguides

We present an integrated Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) based Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) in order to perform ultrafast all-optical XOR logic gate operation with a bit rate of ∼ 0.33 Tb/s. A numerical simulation is carried out in order to study various parameters such as extinction ratio and eye-opening parameters, characterizing the performance of the XOR logic gate. The output XOR logic gate signal can have improved extinction and eye margin if the initial powers of primary signals and the probe continuous-wave (CW), and SOI waveguide length are judiciously adjusted.     

Femtosecond compensated pair-pulses generation with nonlinear SOI-MZI waveguides

In this paper, we propose and simulate the generation of femtosecond compensated pair-pulses (bright and dark pulses), obtained simultaneously at the same center wavelength. The proposed configuration is based on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) waveguide. The ultrafast pair-pulses are pumped at the mid-wave infrared wavelength (MWIR) injected in one arm of MZI, and a continuous-wave (CW) at the near infrared wavelength (specific communication wavelength) is launched from the other arm of MZI and divided equally into the two MZI arms. Numerical results show that femtosecond compensated pair-pulses with little pedestal shoulders in optical communication window can be simultaneously generated. In addition, the output properties, including the extinction ratio (ER) and contrast of compensated pair-pulses, are studied. The relation between the launching optical powers and the length of the Nonlinear SOI-MZI Waveguides are also explored. Such a work is helpful to dual binary code optical communication systems, opto-electronic devices and spectroscopy, etc.     

基于对称结构的光纤谐振环辅助马赫曾德尔干涉仪型梳状滤波器的研究

为了改善常规马赫曾德尔干涉仪(MZI)型滤波器的输出特性, 提出了一种由双耦合器和单模光纤构成的“8”字形谐振环,将该光纤谐振环与一个3 dB光纤方向耦合器相结合,利用光纤谐振环反馈回路引入的相位调节效应,选择合适的谐振环耦合角,设计出一种基于对称结构的光纤谐振环梳状滤波器,具有平坦滤波响应的输出光谱。与普通MZI型梳状滤波器和双级级联MZI型梳状滤波器相比,阻带抑制和过渡带滚降特性明显加强;与不对称结构的光纤谐振环辅助MZI型梳状滤波器相比,在考虑传输损耗的情况下,相干涉的两束光信号不存在幅度差异,降低了传输损耗对梳状滤波器消光特性的影响。     

Mach-Zehnder Interferometer Based on Coupled Dielectric Pillars

We propose a Mach-Zehnder interferometer （MZI） based on coupled dielectric pillars. It is composed of single-row pillar coupled waveguide modulating arms and three-row pillar waveguide 3 dB couplers. The slow light property and transmission loss of the single-row pillar modulating arm are optimized by the plane wave expansion method. A short 3dB coupler is designed based on the modes transformation in three-row pillar waveguide. Finite difference time domain simulations prove the validity of this MZI and show that it has low insertion loss of 1.1 dB and high extinction ratio of 〉 12 dB.     

Highly sensitive Si nanowire-based optical sensor using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer coupled microring

A Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) coupled microring is demonstrated experimentally to obtain a high sensitivity as well as a large range for measuring change in refractive index. For the present MZI-coupled microring, there is a major resonance wavelength with a high extinction ratio (16-36 dB) in a very large wavelength span. Consequently, a very large quasi-free spectral range (>120 nm) is achieved, which helps to obtain a large measurement range. The MZI-coupled microring sensor is used for measuring the change of the ambient refractive index ranging from 1.0 to 1.538, and the sensitivity is as high as 111 nm/refractive index unit.     

Novel automatic control for the optimum optical gain and phase differences in SOA-MZI wavelength converter: Theory and experiment

We have proposed, simulated, and experimentally verified the novel automatic control method and apparatus to automatically adjust and constantly maintain the optimum optical gain and phase differences in order to achieve the automatically optimized semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)-Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) wavelength converter (WC) with wide input power dynamic range (IPDR) and maximum extinction ratio (ER). Our automatic control algorithm is proposed through the results of simulation and its validity is confirmed through the experiment.     

Mach-Zehnder interferometers assembled with optical microfibers or nanofibers

We demonstrate Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZI) assembled using optical microfibers or nanofibers (MNFs) drawn from silica fibers and tellurite glasses. As-assembled MZIs, with dimensions of tens to hundreds of micrometers, show good interference fringes with extinction ratios of approximately 10 dB. The path-length difference of the MZI can be tuned by micromanipulation under an optical microscope. The MNF-assembled MZIs demonstrated here show advantages of easy fabrication, in situ tunability, and compact size.     

All-optical 40 Gb/s wavelength conversion using hybrid SOI-based MZI and SOAs configuration

In this paper, we present a compact combination of silicon-based Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) and semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) to perform all-optical return to zero (RZ)-to-RZ and non-return to zero (NRZ) wavelength conversions at a bit rate of 40 Gb/s. Using the proposed theoretical project, the attractive issue is that converted signals with inverted and noninverted formats can be simultaneously achieved at the same target wavelength. Moreover, both extinction ratio and eye-opening ratio of the converted RZ and NRZ signals can be significantly optimized by judiciously adjusting the system parameters and initial conditions.     

Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a uniform wavelength period

We have realized a first optical filter composed of optical delay lines and couplers that has a periodic response with respect to wavelength, whereas a conventional optical filter is known to have a periodic response to relative optical frequency. This new filter can be constructed by using a phase-generating coupler (PGC) that supplies the optical delay lines with a wavelength-dependent nonlinear phase. The PGC, which is also composed of optical delay lines and couplers, can simultaneously provide a desired phase and an arbitrary amplitude coupling ratio. We applied our transformation method to a conventional Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) as an example of an optical frequency filter and converted it to an optical wavelength filter. We fabricated the designed MZI on a silica-based planar lightwave circuit and successfully realized what is believed to be the first MZI with a uniform wavelength period.     

基于多模干涉耦合器的集成热光开关实验研究

报道了一种基于多模干涉(MMI)耦合器的马赫曾德尔干涉仪(MZI)型2×2集成热光开关的实验研究结果,插损为3.40 dB,偏振相关损耗为0.47 dB,直通和交叉状态消光比分别为32.01 dB和16.42 dB,响应时间小于3 ms,开关功耗为658 mW。针对直通和交叉状态消光比不对称的现象,从理论上做出了解释,因为半导体平面光波电路(PLC)工艺一致性较好,两个多模干涉耦合器的分光比虽然因工艺误差偏离50∶50,但误差量相近,这个特点对光开关直通和交叉状态的消光比产生了不同影响。分析了在波导上制作加热电极对波导有效折射率的影响,估算其增量在2×10-4量级。     

All-Optical Modulation with a Surface Plasmon Mach-Zehnder Interferometer

We use two parallel nano-slits in a silver film to form a surface plasmon Mach Zehnder interferometer （MZI）, based on the interference of two surface plasmon waves propagating along the two surfaces of the silver film. Coating the silver film with a photoinduced birefringence polymer film, we achieve optical modulation of the MZI output by changing the refractive index of the polymer film with a pump beam. An on/off ratio 0f 2. 7 is obtained for a probe wavelength of 865 nm.     

Instantaneous frequency measurement based on complementary microwave photonic filters with a shared Mach-Zehnder interferometer

A novel configuration using only one Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) for photonic-assisted instantaneous microwave frequency measurement is proposed. The amplitude comparison function (ACF), related to the input microwave frequency while independent of the input optical power and modulate index, is achieved by using a ratio of low-pass to bandpass frequency responses introduced by intensity and phase modulation with a shared MZI. The microwave frequency can be estimated by the measured ACF. A proof-of-concept experiment for measurement of RF from 5 to 10 GHz is successfully demonstrated with the measurement errors less than ± 0.2 GHz.     

On the design of ultrafast all-optical NOT gate using quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifier-based Mach–Zehnder interferometer

The feasibility of implementing an ultrafast NOT gate by means of a two-input Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) that employs quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifiers (QD-SOAs) is theoretically explored and shown. For this purpose a numerical treatment is conducted by modeling the propagation of strong pulses through a QD-SOA and the resultant change of the QD-SOA gain dynamics. This procedure allows to evaluate the impact of the critical parameters on the MZI complementary output port and find which is the most appropriate way to be selected and combined. The analysis of the simulation results reveals that with the non-data driven QD-SOA constantly held in the linear gain regime, the other QD-SOA, which is perturbed by the data to be logically inverted, must be operated in a nonlinear regime. This is defined by the drop of the specific QD-SOA gain by approximately 5.5 dB from its unsaturated value, which is caused by a data peak power being 4 dB higher than its saturation input power. Moreover, in order for the design to be complete, both QD-SOAs must be of medium length, provide a maximum modal gain such that their net gain exceeds by two orders of magnitude that at transparency, be biased at moderate current density and exhibit an electron relaxation time from the excited state to the ground state as fast as possible. Provided that these conditions are satisfied then a more than adequate extinction ratio can be obtained, which ensures that Boolean NOT logic is executed at 160 Gb/s both with logical correctness and high quality using QD-SOAs in a structurally simple, power efficient and operationally flexible version of the MZI.     

大功率、高效率、高消光比铒光纤多波长超荧光光源

采用改进的反射式Mach-Zehnder干涉滤波器，对双程后向结构掺铒光纤超荧光光源(DPB SFS) 分别进行光谱分割和光谱预分割，构建了两种结构的多波长超荧光光纤光源（MW SFS），波长间隔为～0.8 nm时，在1550 nm附近（1542～1559 nm）20个波长的功率波动小于0.5 dB其中前者消光比高达27 dB；后者消光比～18 dB，在泵浦光功率为72.8 mW时，最大输出功率25.3 mW，光光转换效率高达34.8%改变Mach-Zehnder干涉仪的臂长差，采用光谱预分割技术，得到1550 nm附近波长间隔～0.4 nm、消光比～16 dB的50个波长输出