Lecture 6: Optical Components
6. Optical
components
Optical Communication
Systems
and
Networks
Optical Communication Systems and Networks
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Lecture 6: Optical Components
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53
BIBLIOGRA
PHY
Optical Networks. A practical perspective
Rajiv Ramaswami, Kumar N. Sivarajan, Chapter 3, pp. 107-223, Ed.
Morgan-kaufmann.
2nd Edition, 2002.
External electro-optic modulators
B.A.A. Saleh y M.C. Teich. Fundamentals of Photonics, Chapter
18, Ed.
Wiley.Iterscience.
J. Capamany, F. J. Fraile-Pelez, J. Mart, Dispositivos de
Comunicaciones pticas,
Chapter 6, Ed. Sntesis
Optical passive components: couplers,
combiners,
isolators, flters, multiplexers,
Optical Communication Systems and Networks
Lecture 6: Optical Components
J. Capamany, F. J. Fraile-Pelez, J. Mart, Dispositivos de
Comunicaciones pticas,
Chapter 2, Ed. Sntesis
Optical Communication Systems and Networks
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Lecture 6: Optical Components
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Introduction to optical networks
Tema 6: Redes WDM
Unidirectional transmission
Bidirectional transmission
The same fiber used to carry out traffic in both propagation directions
Advantages:
It is achieved an optimization of optical fiber bandwidth and cost
savings outside plant
Disadvantages:
a) Special components (circulator) are needed for separating
the transmission directions
b) Most EDFAs have internal insulators that prevent
bidirectional transmission c) Crosstalk from nonlinear effects
d) Complex implementation of restoration and protection schemes
Setting up ligthpaths along fiber optic links and nodes supporting
traffic from a variety
of client layer: ATM, IP, ... In the optical layer, comprises:
Optical transmission medium
OLT, optical line terminal equipment
OADM, optical add / drop multiplexer for inserting or removing
optical channels
Optical Communication Systems and Networks
OXC, optical Crossconnect
Optical Communication Systems and Networks
Lecture 6: Optical Components
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53
Tema 6: Redes WDM
Optical transmission medium
o Core and cladding diameters (m)
o Attenuation coefficient (dB/km)
o Dispersion coefficient D (ps/kmnm)
o Differential Dispersion coefficient
(ps/km.nm2)
o PMD parameter (ps/km1/2)
o Minimum dispersion wavelength (m)
o Cutoff wavelength(m)
o Nonlinear refractive index
o Modal field diameter / effective area (m)
Parameters to
consider when
choosing an
optical fiber
Band descriptors defined by ITU to operate in minimum loss
spectral region
Ban
d
O
E
S
C
L
Descriptor
Origina
l
Extended
Short
Conventional
Lon
g
Spectral range
(nm)
1260 1360
1360 1460
1460 1530
1530 1565
1565 1625
Ultra-long
1625 - 1675
Optical transmission medium
Standard Single Mode Fiber, SSMF
Represents 95% of installed outside plant (> 100 million km)
Standardized by ITU-G.652 recommendation
Used for transmission within the spectral range 1260 - 1675 nm,
except E
and S bands
Presents high dispersion between 1530 - 1675 nm spectral
region
It requires dispersion compensation for long distances
Typical Dispersion profile
Main applications:
Operation at 1310
nm in
CATV and MAN
networks
Operation at 1550nm
over long distances
18
Tema 6: Redes WDM
Dispersion (
1310 nm
1550 nm
Lecture 6: Optical Components
53
Dispersion Shifted Fiber, DSF
By a geometric modification of the refractive
index profile the minimum dispersion wavelength
is shifted from 2nd to 3rd communications
window
Loss slightly higher than SSMF (0.25 dB / km @ 1550 nm)
Not suitable for WDM since D = 0 ps/kmnm and small Aeff
increases nonlinear effects considerably
For example, the effective area is typically lower than 40 m2
Suitable for single-channel
Typical Dispersion profile
systems.
Dispersion (ps/kmnm)
Tema 6: Redes WDM
Optical transmission medium
18
0
1310 nm
1550 nm
6/
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Lecture 6: Optical Components
53
Optical transmission medium
Non-Zero Dispersion Fiber, NZDSF
Low dispersion D in 3rd window but not negligible
Dispersion can be positive or negative, and sign
to get a zero total dispersion using the concept
of dispersion management
Standardized by ITU-G.652 recommendation
Dispersion (ps/kmnm)
Applications:
high-speed communications and long distances networks
Typical Dispersion profile
Not suitable for transmission at
1310 nm
Available for DWDM technology
18
0
1310 nm
1550 nm
7/
NZDSF+
Tema 6: Redes WDM
Optical Communication Systems and Networks
NZDSF-
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Optical line terminal equipment, OLT
OLTs take care of multiplexing and demultiplexing multiple
wavelengths (or optical channels) on the same fiber
They are used in point-to-point or in the terminal stage of the link
They are built from relatively simple elements, mainly composed
by multiplexer
devices, wavelength converters (transponder/repeaters) and
optical amplifiers
Optical Node: OLT function
1
SDH
router
IP
1 2
3
3
stand
ard
Client
protoco
ls
mux
demu
x
router
IP
O/E/O
(transponde
r)
OC
S
OC
S
Tema 6: Redes WDM
Signals
managed in
electrical
domain
Optical Communication Systems and Networks
Signals
managed in
optical
domain
Lecture 6: Optical Components
53
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Optical line terminal equipment, OLT
OTL presents adaptation functions: the wavelength
conversion according to standards set by the International
Telecommunications Union (ITU)
Transponders may add additional overhead for purposes of
network
management
The adaptation function is typically done through an opticalto-electrical-to- optical (O/E/O) conversion
the adaptation can be enabled only in the incoming direction
The signal coming out of a transponder is multiplexed with
other signals at different wavelengths using a wavelength
multiplexer
It exists technological options to implement mux/demux: FabryPerot filters,
arrayed waveguide gratings, dielectric thin-film filters, or
fiber Bragg gratings
OLT can be terminated with an optical supervisory channel
(OSC) on a separate
wavelength to monitor the performance of amplifiers
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Lecture 6: Optical Components
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Tema 6: Redes WDM
Optical line terminal equipment, OLT
Optical Multiplexers
The function of the multiplexer is to couple two or more
wavelengths in the same optical fiber
(the demultiplexer is responsible for performing the inverse
operation, to separate the
various wavelengths comprising the WDM signal from an
optical fiber)
Multiplexer
requirements:
Low insertion losses
Independent losses of the polarization state
Steep skirts (reduce crosstalk)
Flat passbands (prevent a reduction in bandwidth in cascaded stages)
and insensitive
to temperature
variations
Inexpensive devices
Technological options considered for the implementation of
multiplexers are considering in the following devices.
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Tema 6: Redes WDM
Optical line terminal equipment, OLT
Fabry Perot filters
FP filter is a dielectric resonant cavity (etalon), formed by two
highly reflective
mirrors placed parallel to each other.
It has been used for WDM applications although there are better
filters nowadays
Ein
Mirror
1
(t1,
r1 )
Mirror
2
(t2,
r2 )
ti :transmission
coefficient (field)
Eout
l: cavity length
1 2
n
l
ri :transmission
coefficient (field)
1 2 1
n: refractive
index of the
cavity
The electric field at the output is the sum of successive
transmitted fields:
= 1 2
2
+ 1 2 2 2
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1 + 1 2
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Optical line terminal equipment, OLT
1
2
1 22 +
4
(
)
1
Normalized Transfer functiion T(f)
Considering the associated periodic
Transfer
Function T(f):
R=0.
2
R=0.
5
R=0.9
Where R=|ri|2, A takes into account
intracavity losses (defined in power)
and it is defined as: A= 1-(R+T)
The periode is defined through the
parameter FSR
or free spectral range:
0
0
Normalized frequency f/FSR
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Optical line terminal equipment, OLT
There are several parameters to evaluate the performance or quality of a FPfilter
(assuming mirrors reflectivity is near R1):
1) FWHM: Full-width at half
maximum
=
2
arcsi
2)
Finesse, F
FWHM
C
nn
B
=
Channel
selection
1/2
FSR
Channels
band
FSR
B bandwidth
frequen
cy
B
bandwidth
frequency
It must be satisfied B< FSR, otherwise crosstalk!
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Optical line terminal equipment, OLT
Filters based on Bragg gratings
These devices are based on the effect Bragg effect acting as
selective wavelength
reflective mirrors
They are built by inserting a diffraction grating in the fiber (Bragg
grating)
A pattern is written in the core of the according to a prestablished
periodic variation of the refractive index
When light propagates through this pattern, the wavelength satisfying
Bragg condition
reflects while the remaining wavelengths continue their
propagation along the fber
n(z)
n+
n n0
R
e
f
r
a
c
t
i
v
e
profil
e
Transmitted
and
Reflected
wavelength
i
n
d
e
x
nn
0
z
Optical Communication Systems and Networks
Bragg
condition
B =
2n0B
wavelength
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Optical line terminal equipment, OLT
Filters based on Bragg gratings
They are usually combined with optical circulators to operate as
optical add-drop
multiplexers
Although insertion loss is negligible, it increases up to 3
dB when they are configured as OADM due to the inclusion
of circulators
Channel spacing of 100 GHz and 50 are achieved, keeping a low
adjacent
channel crosstalk
Other advantages:
Easy coupling to other fibers
Insensitivity to polarization loss
Reduced cost
Active control of temperature not required
In the design of an OADM, it is important to consider the passband narrowing after propagating along a OADM cascaded
stages (crosstalk and losses)
OADM device manipulates only the extracted signals without
affecting those
which traversing the node, thereby reducing undesirable effects.
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Dropping a channel in a WDM system
Bragg
grating
tuned at
waveleng
th
wavelength
The refection spectrum is obtained as the
Fourier transform
of the index
distribution
The bandwidth is inversely proportional to
the length of the
grating (a few millimeters long provides a
bandwidth 1 nm)
wavelength
waveleng
th
Bragg
grating
tuned at
waveleng
th
wavelength
waveleng
th
Add/Drop function based on
Bragg fiber gratings
(Also available a coupler-based
solution replacing 2nd cirtulator)
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wavelength
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Optical line terminal equipment, OLT
Thin Film milticavity Filters
A multilayer dielectric thin film filters (TFF) is based on a Fabry-Perot
interferometer consisting
of multiple cavities surrounded by multiple reflective dielectric thin film layers
This device acts as a bandpass filter where a particular wavelength passes
through and the
rest are reflected is determined by the length of each cavity
The flter response is determined by the number of cavities: as the
number increases the top of the passband becomes flatter and the skirts
become steeper
Cavity
1
input
Dielectric layers acting as
selctive wavelength mirrors
Cavity 2
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Glass
substra
te
Cavity 3
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Optical line terminal equipment, OLT
Implementation as a multiplexer / demultiplexer:
Presence of lenses with graded refractive index for confining
and directing at a certain angle the signal to the next filter
Each filter allows a specifc range of wavelength of light to pass
through to reflect
the rest to the next filter in the cascade arrangement
Main features:
Efficient configuration: access only to channels to be removed and
inserted without affecting the rest of the wavelengths passing
through
Flat Passbands and very steep skirts
Stability to temperature variations
Low losses
Insensitive to the signal polarization
Each extracted wavelength from the WDM signal is injected into a
separate fiber
Passive nature makes them especially useful in distribution network (cost
saving)
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Optical line terminal equipment, OLT
Arrayed waveguide gratings, AWGs
Arraye
d
waveguid
es
coupler
coupler
AWG
operating as
a
demultiplexer
AWG is a generalization of the
Mach-Zehnder interferometer
It consist of two couplers interconnected by an array of waveguides
Two copies of the same signal but shifted in phase by different amounts
are added together
AWGs can be used as an n 1 wavelength multiplexers: an n-input, 1output device where
the n inputs are signals at different wavelengths that are combined onto
the single output
Demultiplexing is performed by the inverse of this function (1 n
wavelengths)
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Optical Crossconnects, OXC
1,
2
,
3
,
4
B
1
B
3
Fiber B
A
A
B
,2 ,3 4,
Demultiplex
ers
, ,
B
2
3
4
Fiber A
Fiber A
Multiplexe
rs
A
B
4
3
4
1 , ,
,
3 4
2
Fiber B
Fixed Optical crossconnect. Static wavelentgh switch routes
signals
from an input port ro an output port on basis a predesigned
assignmet
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Introduction to optical components
Passive optical devices act on signals propagating through them.
Among the various functions they perform are not included the
generation, transmission, amplification and optical detection
Matrix formalism is used for describing polarization phenomena and
applications. There are
several methodes:
For devices which are not affected by the polarization state of the
signal (not alter the state of polarization with respect to the signal
input):
Scattering matrix: relates outgoing fields with incoming
electrical fields
Transfer matrix: relates incoming and outgoing fields of an even
number of ports on the left side of the optical component with the
incoming and outgoing fields of an even number of ports on its
right
Jones Matrix describes the change or modification of the optical
signal polarization state when an optical signal goes through an
optical device
It is used in polarizers, polarization rotators, wave
retarders, isolators, or
polarization splitters and combiners
It is very common the use of parameters expressed in dB from
manufacturers datasheets which provide information about the power
distribution among different ports
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Lecture 6: Optical Components
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Optical pasive
Components:
fiber
2
fiber
1
22/
System of
coupled linear
differential
equations
Evanescent
field
coupli
ng
dE1 j E c E
dz
dE2
E1
E2
E1 (
z)
cos(cz )
E2 (
z)
jsen(cz )
dz
1 1
j
E
2
12 2
c E
21 1
cij = coupling coefficient
jsen(cz ) E1
(0)
.
cos(cz ) E2
(0)
Optical Communication Systems and Networks
Power definition
P
( z) E ( z)2 P (0)(1 k )
1
P ( z) 1
2
E ( z)
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Optical pasive
Components:
1
E1 ( z) 1 k
Ez
)
2 (
j k
j k E1 (0)
E
1
(0)
k 2
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1P (0)k
where k(cL)
sen 2
is the coupling ratio
1
1 ()
Incoming energy from M=2 input
waveguides is distributed into N=2
output waveguides
P1 (0)
P2 (0)
1 (0)
P1 (L) P3
P2 (L) P4
OPTICAL COUPLER
M=2 N=2
2
(
)
2 (0)
Optical coupler response
Normalized distance
There are different technological options to implement combiners.
The most usual are:
-Based on optical fibers
- Fusion
- Polishing
-Based on integrated optics
- Deposition
- Ionic-exchange
Operation
principle:
evanescent field o modal
interference
couplin
g
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Optical pasive
Components:
COUPLERS/COMBI
NERS
Pin (1)
Pout (4)
Port 1
Port 4
Port 2
Port 3
Pout (3)
Pin (2)
(negligible ideally)
Insertion Loss: loss experimented by
the signal when it propagates according
to a particular configurarion input-output
ports
PP 10
LLL1
L
(dB)
P
L
(dB)
10
L(dB)
122
L
L (dB)
10 10
log
log
log
log
I
i
P
3
Coupling parameter: provides
information about
Schematic
coupler 2x2
Excess Loss: ratio of total power at
all output
ports with respect to the input power.
P1
LE (dB) 10 log( ) 10
P
log
P
4
3
how power is distributed among output
ports
Directivity
represents
the
power
fraction at the input port which is
back-propagated to other input ports
P4
P3 P 4
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P
D(dB) 10 log
P1
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Optical pasive
Components:
COUPLERS/COMBI
NERS
Directional Coupler M x N
Inputs (i, i)
Coupler N x N
Outputs (k, k)
N outputs
M Inputs
MxN
NxN coupler built from
log2N
stages of elemental 2x2
couplers
Input power is distributed equally through all output ports (excess loss negligible)
Output power= Input power/N excess loss
LI ik(dB) 1 0 log
Pk
Pi
LI=Ldis+LE
Dii ' (dB ) 10 log
Pi '
P
Uniformity
U
LI
max
LI
min
LE i (dB) 10
log
Pij
0
log
1
i
Pi
Optical Communication Systems and Networks
loss
Ldiv (dB) 10 log
Distribution
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Optical pasive Components:
MULTIPLEXERS/DEMULTIPLEXERS
MULTIPLEXOR
1+ 2
1
2
DEMULTIPLEXOR
1+
2
1
2
Multiplex/demultiplex functions can be also performed by filter technology
(FP-FabryPerot Filters, AWG-Arrayed Waveguide Gratings, TFMF-Thin Film
multilayer Filters)
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Lecture 6: Optical Components
Polarize
rs:
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Passive components acting on polarization
state
Allows the propagation of the linear polarization component of the
electric field aligned in the direction of its transmitting axis, blocking
the propagation of the orthogonal component.
Technological options:
1. Absorption or selective loss
2. Selective reflection in isotropic materials
3. Selective refraction in birefringent materials
In practice, the orthogonal polarization is not completely suppressed
and the passing
polarization component (parallel to the optical axis) suffers losses,
unlike an ideal
y
polarizer.
||
Operating
parameters:
Insertion
Loss:
E
x
tinct
rati
||
= 1010
||
= 1010
Optical Communication Systems and Networks
||
||
Lecture 6: Optical Components
53
Passive components acting on polarization
state
Wave
retarder:
Introduces a relative phase shift (phase retardation) between
the horizontal and vertical states of the electric field
They are implemented by using bulk optics (anisotropic media):
birefringent films with a thikness d with a particular refractive index
nh for horizontal polarization (slow axis), and a different refractive
index nv for vertical polarization (fast axis). Then :
2
2
=
= 2
2
Quarter wave retarder
When =/2, the initial linearly polarized signal (at 45 with
respect to x axes) is transformed to a left-hand circular
polarization
Half-wave retarder
29/
When = , the initial linearly polarized wave forming 45 with x
axis is converted to another linearly polarized wave forming -45
with x axis (polarization rotation 90)
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Passive components acting on polarization
state
Wave
retarder:
Introduces a relative phase shift (phase retardation) between
the horizontal and vertical states of the electric field
They are implemented by using bulk optics (anisotropic media):
birefringent films with a thikness d with a particular refractive index
nh for horizontal polarization (slow axis), and a different refractive
index nv for vertical polarization (fast axis). Then :
= 2
2
Transmittance
2
2
=
y polarizer
retarder
x
polarizer
2 3
Retardation,
30/
Aplication:
Intensity
control
wave retarder + 2 polarizers
(crossed config.)
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Passive components acting on polarization state
Polarization Rotators:
A polarization rotator produces a rotation of the polarization
plane of a linearly polarized wave by a fixed angle , maintaining
the linearly polarized property.
It is required materials in which a magnetic field B produces the
rotation of the polarization direction of linearly polarized wave. This
property is called Faraday effect.
=
where V is the Verdet constant and its value depends on the material used
(n, refractive
index and magneto-optical rotation coeffcient) and wavelength:
Materials with
Faraday effect:
Terbium gallium garnet (TGG), terbium
aluminum garnet (TbAlG), and yttrium iron
garnet (YIG).
Bismuth garnets (GdBiG
and TbBiIG) are used in
1550 nm
Polarization rotation in a madium exhibiting the Faraday effect
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Passive components acting on polarization
state
Optical Isolator:
Transmits ligth in only one direction, preventing reflected light
from returning back to the source
Pin
Pout
Port 1
Port 2
Pout
(ideally 0)
Pin
Diagram of an Optical isolator
Insertion Loss, considers the power
loss when
light propagation is in the direction
(1 2) :
Li (dB)
Pin (1)
Isolation ratio, provides the ratio between the
power transmitted through port 1 when optical
power is introduced in port 2:
10 log10
inP( 2)
I (dB) 10 log10
out( 2)
Optical Communication Systems and Networks
out(1)
Lecture 6: Optical Components
53
Passive components acting on polarization
state
Optical Isolator:
Transmitted
wave
y Polarizer B
45
x 45
Reflected
wave
45
Faraday Rotator
y
Polarizer A
x
y Polarizer B
B
Faraday Rotator
x 45
90
y Polarizer A
x
Blocking
transmitted
signal
Incident
wave
33/
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34/
Optical pasive
Components:
OPTICAL
ATTENUATORS
Reduce the power level at
their
entrance
Allow to adjust properly
power levels at the optical
devices input ports for a
correct performance
Can provide a fixed or
variable attenuation
Fixed
attenuator
Variable
attenuator
Fixed/variable
attenuators by
transversal or
longitudinal
desplacement
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Optical pasive
Components:
OPTICAL
CIRCULATORS
Circulators allow adding and dropping optical channels in a WDM signal,
processing optical headers and selective optical processing functions
when they are combined with other optical devices.
The signal injected into the port 1 goes
directly to the port 2. When a signal is
introduced in 2, it exits through the port
3. And a signal comes through 1 when it
has been previously introduced in port 3.
Bra
Adding or dropping channels in WDM systems
1
Wavelengths at
the input 1
2 3 4
Dropped
Wavelengths at the output 1 2 3 4
wavelength: 3
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EXTERNAL MODULATORS
Optical sources directly modulated at high frequencies in systems
based on intensity modulation (IM) can introduce chirp when
semiconductor laser diodes are used as transmitter, increasing the
dispersion effects, and then, limiting the maximum bit rate.
CW emission
Diode
Laser
Information (electrical signal)
Modulat Modulated optical signal
or
Solution: EXTERNAL MODULATION
After biasing semiconductor lasers by a constant current, the
continuous wave emission (CW) is injected into an external device
(external modulator) which superimposes a copy of the electrical
information signal, providing the optical signal modulated at the
output .
This will eliminate or reduce the chirp to
negligible values .
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53
EXTERNAL MODULATORS
There are two main techniques to implement external
modulators with features such as fast response,
simplicity and compacticity required in optical systems:
1) Electro-optic Modulators
Intensity and phase modulation are achieved
Based on ferro-electric crystals like lithium
niobate (LiNbO3) Currently, the use of polimers
is being investigated for this purpose
2) Electro-absorption Modulators
Operation based on intensity modulation and
usually built in semiconductor technology
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53
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EXTERNAL MODULATORS: Electro-optic
effect
EO effect is responsible for the refractive index change in electrooptic materials by applying an external field (Pockels effect).
External modulators take advantage of this effect to modulate the
optical carrier in
phase or intensity
Crystals used in modulators are anisotropic, in which refractive
index depends on the polarization direction of the electric field
(optical signal)
To produce an intense effect, the access to r33 coefficient, the
greatest element in the electro-optic tensor, is required. This is
achieved when the electric field polarization is parallel to the cristals
optical axis:
1
n(E) n0 n03 r33 E
2
n0= refractive index in absence of electric field
n(E)= refractive index when electric field
is applied r33 electro-optic effect
E Applied electric field component according to the optical axis
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EXTERNAL MODULATORS: Electro-optic
effect
Optical axis (+c)
y
Ei()=Eoiexp[-jn/c]
E
()=E
i
E applied
z
x
n(E)
n0
LiNbO3 crystal
(anisotropic
crystal)
exp(-jn(E)/c)
oi
n r E
With typical values of LiNbO3
n0
2.2
r33 pm/V
30
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EXTERNAL MODULATORS: Electro-optic
effect
Eout()
Modulated
wave
Response
Ein()
d
0
Incident wave
in CW
L
The incident wave
must be polarized
V d
r n3 L
33 0
V
V
V
Values in
the range
2-5 V
Optical Communication Systems and Networks
Lecture 6: Optical Components
53
41/
EXTERNAL MODULATORS: Electro-optic
effect
TRANSVER
SAL
CONFIGURA
TION
V
LONGITUDI
NAL
CONFI
GURATI
ON
Optical Communication Systems and Networks
Lecture 6: Optical Components
53
Applications: Electro-optic modulator for
intensity modulation
(Polarization configuration)
Output polarizer
Optical intensity modulator
based on Pockels cell
between crossed polarizers
Optical
Transmittance
Transmittance (V)
Input polarizer
Oriented at 45 degrees
with
respect to the
optical axis
1,0
0,5
0,0
42/
Vbias
Voltage, V
V
t
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Lecture 6: Optical Components
Applications: Electro-optic modulator for
intensity modulation
(Interferometer configuration)
I0
Optical
Transmittance
Transmittance (V)
Intensity modulator based on
Mach-Zehnder Interferometer
path 1
I1
path 2
I2
Phase modulation
V
1,0
Guide configurations allow reduced values of
-3
0,5
t
V.
0,0
Vbias
Voltage, V
),providing
d/L (d10 m, L10 cm
d/L10
reduced control voltages V 1-2
The commercial electro-modulators allow
modulation bandwidths of 40 GHz
Optical Communication Systems and Networks
Lecture 6: Optical Components
53
44/
Example: Use of Mach-Zehnder configuration
in a RZ-coding
intensity
modulation
When a MZM Mach-Zehnder modulator is driven by a voltage:
Vm (t) Vbias VRF (t) Vbias cos(2 m )
ft
VRF
where Vbias is the DC voltage, VRF is the amplitude of the RF signal, f is the
modulation frequency
and m the phase shift
The transmittance can be expresed as:
V (t)
m
V
2
2
T t cos
cos
2V 2
2V
V (t)
bia s RF
2V
where is the MZM phase shift in absence of exciting voltage and V is the
phase voltage
Then:
If Vbias = Vmax the MZM is biased to offer maximum optical transmission
If Vbias = Vmin the MZM is biased to offer minimum optical transmission
MZM interferometer can be also driven in a balanced performance
Optical Communication Systems and Networks
Lecture 6: Optical Components
Electric Input
1,0
0,5
Outpu
t
phase
=
Outpu
t
phase
=0
Voltage, V
0,0
Vbias
t
t
50%
1,0
RZ
1,0
Electric Input
Electric Input
Transmittance (V)
Example: Return to zero
implementation for
different duty
cycles
45/ 53
Outpu
t
phase
0,0 =
Outpu
t
phase
=0
Vbia
Transmitt
0,5
Voltage,
V
Outpu
t
phase
0,0 =
0,5
Outpu
t
phase
=0
Vbias
RZ 33%
Transmittance (V)
Optical Communication Systems and Networks
RZ 67%
Voltage,
V
Lecture 6: Optical Components
53
46/
Example: Return to zero
implementation for
different duty cycles
Techniques to generate RZ coding signal:
Directly modulated diode laser by an electrical RZ signal (intensity)
Generating an optical pulse train modulated by a no return to zero
data signal
B
Gb/s
NRZ
Information
Diode
Laser
B/2 GHz
+V
Modulated
optical
EO
Modulator signal
NRZ
B Gb/s
Diod
e
Lase
r
B
GHz
+V/
2
EO
Modulators
B/2 GHz
+V
RZ 33, 67%
Diode
Laser
EO
Modulators
RZ 50%
Optical Communication Systems and Networks
B GHz
+V/2
Lecture 6: Optical Components
53
47/
Return to zero schemes
RZ pulse of three duty cycles for a bit secuence: 1001101
0 0 0 0
RZ 50%
RZ 67%
RZ 33%
Frequency with regard
to the
Power [dBm]
Power [dBm]
Power [dBm]
The red bar indicates the full-width at half maximum and de duty cycle
and 0 indicate phase shift in RZ CS-RZ-67%.
optical
carrier
[GHz)
Frequency with regard to
the optical carrier
[GHz)
Frequency with regard to
the optical carrier [GHz)
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Lecture 6: Optical Components
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48/
MAIN OPTICAL SWITCHING
TECHNOLOGIES
Bulk opto-mechanical switches
Micro-electro-mechanical (MEMs)
switches
Bubble-based waveguide switches
Electro-optical switches
Thermo-optic switches
Optical Communication Systems and Networks
Lecture 6: Optical Components
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49/
OPTICAL
COMPONENTS:
Micro-electro-mechanical
switch (MEM)
Light passing
through
No bubble
Reflected
beam
(switchi
ng)
Switch based
on a silicon
substrate
Rows of micromirrors mounted on translation
stages controlled by electro-mechanical actuators
2D MEMS: switching takes places in a 2D silicon substrate , where
rows of micromirrors can be fold up or down (by electromagnetic,
electrostatic or piezoelectric method) to deflect incident beams
3D MEMS: steering mirrors allow switching in 3D. It is obtained a
drastically increase of the number of ports, providing more compact
devices (from 256 to over 1000 ports)
Advantages: fast response, high integration and number of ports
Optical Communication Systems and Networks
Lecture 6: Optical Components
53
50/
OPTICAL
COMPONENTS:
Bubble-based
waveguide switch
waveguid
es
Planar
wavegui
de
switch
Reflected
beam
(switching)
Bubble
No bubble
Light passing through
Fluid channels
(trenches filled with index matching gel)
Under normal conditions, light propagates straight on crossover
points, without
interruption
Switching is performed as a result of the bubble formation
after heating the crossover point by termo-electric actuators
the light beam is reflected towards the corresponding
waveguide to the desired output port
Optical Communication Systems and Networks
Lecture 6: Optical Components
53
51/
OPTICAL
COMPONENTS:
Switch based on integrated Mach-Zehnder
interferometers
(Electro-optic
control)
Planar
wavegui
de
switch
waveguides
No
bubble
Light passing through
Voltage on
Voltage
(switchin
off
g)
In directional coupler configuration, the coupling ratio varies by
changing
electro-optically the refractive index
Advantage: Fast response (typically, less than 1 ns) and high level of
integration
Disadvantages: Usually have a relatively high loss and PDL
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Lecture 6: Optical Components
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53
OPTICAL
COMPONENTS:
Switch based on integrated Mach-Zehnder
interferometers
(Thermo-optic
control)
Planar
wavegui
de
switch
waveguides
No
bubble
Light passing through
on
Heat off
(switchi
ng)
In directional coupler configuration, the coupling ratio varies by
changing
thermo-optically the refractive index
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Lecture 6: Optical Components
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53
Main disadvantage: Quite slow response (milliseconds)
Optical Communication Systems and Networks
Comparison of different optical switching
technologies
Technolog
y
8x8
Crosst
alk
(dB
55
2D-MEMs
32x32
3D-MEMs
1000x100
0 32x32
Bulkmechanical
Bubblebased
Thermooptic
Electrooptic
Siz
e
Loss
(dB)
PDL (dB)
0,2
Switchi
ng
tim
10 ms
55
0,2
10 ms
55
0,5
10 ms
7,5
50
0,3
10 ms
8x8
40
Low
4x4
35
3
msps
10
Source: Optical Networks. Pp. 208. Rajiv
Ramaswami, Kumar Sivarajan. Ed. Morgan
Kaufmann, 2002
