modulates an optical signal depending on electrical signal
Keywords
electrical, optical, unidirectional
Ports
| Name | Type |
|---|---|
| input | Optical Signal |
| modulation 1 | Electrical Signal |
| modulation 2 | Electrical Signal |
| output | Optical Signal |
Properties
General Properties
| Name | Default value | Default unit | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
|
name Defines the name of the element. |
Mach-Zehnder Modulator Measured | - | - |
|
annotate Defines whether or not to display annotations on the schematic editor. |
true | - | [true, false] |
|
enabled Defines whether or not the element is enabled. |
true | - | [true, false] |
|
type Defines the element unique type (read only). |
Mach-Zehnder Modulator Measured | - | - |
|
description A brief description of the elements functionality. |
modulates an optical signal depending on electrical signal | - | - |
|
prefix Defines the element name prefix. |
MZM | - | - |
|
model Defines the element model name. |
- | - | - |
|
library Defines the element location or source in the library (custom or design kit). |
- | - | - |
|
local path Defines the local path or working folder $LOCAL for the element. |
- | - | - |
|
url An optional URL address pointing to the element online help. |
- | - | - |
Standard Properties
| Name | Default value | Default unit | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
|
frequency Central frequency of operation. |
193.1 |
THz* *std. unit is Hz |
(0, +∞) |
|
length The interaction length of the modulator. |
1 | m | [0, +∞) |
|
splitting ratio The Y-branch power splitting ratio P1/P2. |
1.3 | - | [0, +∞) |
|
phase shift 0 radians for a conventional modulator and π radians for a π phase-shift modulator. |
3.141592654 | rad | (-∞, +∞) |
|
input parameter Defines whether the input parameter is a table with voltage dependent values or coefficients of a polynomial function. |
table | - | [table, coefficients |
Standard/Table Properties
| Name | Default value | Default unit | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
|
load from file Defines whether or not to load measurements from an input file or to use the currently stored values. |
false | - | [true, false] |
|
measurement filename The file containing the measurement data. Refer to the Implementation Details section for the format expected. |
- | - | - |
|
measurement type Defines the type of measurement data. |
effective index | - | [absorption & phase, effective index |
|
measurement A matrix editor for users to read the element current modulation data values. |
<11,3> [-5, -4.5, -4,...] | - | - |
Standard/Coefficients Properties
| Name | Default value | Default unit | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
|
absorption coefficient a The polynomial coefficient for the absorption function. |
-0.0617 | dB/V^3/m | (-∞, +∞) |
|
absorption coefficient b The polynomial coefficient for the absorption function. |
-0.2804 | dB/V^2/m | (-∞, +∞) |
|
absorption coefficient c The polynomial coefficient for the absorption function. |
-0.6635 | dB/V/m | (-∞, +∞) |
|
absorption coefficient d The polynomial coefficient for the absorption function. |
-0.0719 | dB/m | (-∞, +∞) |
|
phase coefficient a The polynomial coefficient for the phase function. |
-0.0038 | rad/V^3/m | (-∞, +∞) |
|
phase coefficient b The polynomial coefficient for the phase function. |
0.1132 | rad/V^2/m | (-∞, +∞) |
|
phase coefficient c The polynomial coefficient for the phase function. |
-0.4825 | rad/V/m | (-∞, +∞) |
|
phase coefficient d The polynomial coefficient for the phase function. |
-0.0107 | rad/m | (-∞, +∞) |
Waveguide Properties
| Name | Default value | Default unit | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
|
modes List of optical mode labels supported by the element. |
TE,TM | - | - |
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Implementation Details
The working principle of Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) measured is the same as the MZM while it requires an input measurement file to define the modulator's characteristic. The measurement file is usually generated by other application tools such as DEVICE or MODE. The input file measurement type can be selected as "absorption & phase" or "effective index". Please see example file MZM_Measured.icp.
If 'absorption & phase' is selected under measurement type, the file format is:
(voltage absorption phase) -5.0 4.03632 5.68178 |
Please see the example file abs_phase_voltage.dat. Please note that, the unit for the 'absorption' coefficient is dB/m and the unit for the 'phase' coefficient is rad/m.
If 'effective index' is selected under measurement type, the file format is:
(voltage real(neff) imag(neff)) -5 1.40392e-6 1.14823e-7 |
Please see the example file effective_index.txt
In this example, the characteristics of the MZM can be visualized by analyzers, following are the analyzers' output to measure the system.
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Fig. 1 Optical Oscilloscope Output |
Fig. 2 Optical Spectrum Analyzer Output |
References
See for the following reference for a description of the standard properties of the MZM:
[1] J.C. Cartledge, "Combing Self-Phase Modulation and Optimum Modulation Conditions to Improve the Performance of 10 Gb/s Transmission Systems Using MQW Mach-Zehnder Modulators," JLT Vol 18, No. 5, 647-655 (2000)