Effect of Temperature and Irradiation Intensity on the Harmonic and Intermodulation Performance of Mach-Zehnder Optomodulator

摘要

This paper presents closed-form expressions for the amplitudes of the harmonics and intermodulation products resulting from driving a Mach-Zehnder optomodulator by a multisinusoidal RF voltage. These expressions are functions of the phase shift caused by the DC bias, ф_(BIAS), and the modulator's switching voltage, V_π, required to change the output light intensity from its maximum value to its minimum value. The special case of a driving two-tone equal-amplitude RF voltage is considered in detail. The results show that the harmonic and intermodulation performance of the Mach-Zehnder optomodulator are strongly dependent on the parameters ф_(BIAS) and V_π. These parameters are strongly dependent on many physical and chemical phenomena; for example irradiation intensity and temperature variations. Using the results obtained in this paper, a data base can be established for the variation of the harmonic and intermodulation performance of Mach-Zehnder optomodulators with many physical and chemical phenomena. This would be of interest for any potential space application using Mach-Zehnder optomodulators where temperature and/or irradiation effects are of special concern. Simulation results obtained using the harmonic balance simulator controller in the Advanced Design System (ADS) design automation software are included.