Experiment No.

(3) Optical Modulators

Experiment No. (3)

Optical Modulators

 Object:

To study the dispersion in optical fiber and its effect on data transmission
and maximum allowable bit rate.

 Theory:

In order to transmit information via an optical fiber communication

system it is necessary to modulate a property of the light with the information
signal. This property may be intensity, frequency, phase or polarization
(direction) with either digital or analog signals. The choices are indicated by the
characteristics of the optical fiber, the available optical sources and detectors,
and consideration of the overall system.

Therefore, there are two ways have been used to achieve an optical
modulation:-

A) Direct intensity modulation (D–IM):-

A block schematic for an analog optical fiber system which

uses direct modulation of the optical source intensity with the baseband signal is
shown in figure (1-a). Obviously, no electrical modulation or demodulation is
required with this technique, making it both inexpensive and easy to implement.
The transmitted optical power waveform as a function of time P opt(t) may be
written as:

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Experiment No. (3) Optical Modulators

𝑃𝑜𝑝𝑡 (𝑡) = 𝑃𝑖 (1 + 𝑚(𝑡)).

Where Pi is the average transmitted optical power (the unmodulated

carrier power) and m(t) is the intensity modulating signal which is proportional
to the source message a(t). For a cosinusoidal modulating signal:

𝑚(𝑡) = 𝑚𝑎 cos(𝜔𝑚 𝑡).

Where ma is the modulation index or the ratio of the peak excursion from
the average to the average power as shown in figure (1-b) and ωm is the angular
frequency of the modulating signal. Combining Eqs (3.1) and (3.2) we get:

𝑃𝑜𝑝𝑡 (𝑡) = 𝑃𝑖 (1 + 𝑚𝑎 cos(𝜔𝑚 𝑡)).

(a)

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Experiment No. (3) Optical Modulators

(b)

Figure (1) (a) Analog optical fiber system employing direct intensity
modulation, and (b) Time domain representation showing direct intensity
modulation of the optical carrier with a baseband analog signal

In direct intensity modulation it can be used either LED modulation

or laser modulation as follow:

1) LED modulation response:-

The frequency response of an LED is determined by the carrier dynamics

(and therefore is limited by the carrier or electron lifetime τ n), and the parasitic
capacitance of the LED (described by the RC constant τRC).

If a small, constant forward bias is applied, the influence of the parasitic

capacitance of the LED can be neglected. The LED 3-dB modulation optical
bandwidth is defined as the modulation frequency at the LED power transfer
function is reduced by 3 dB. The LED 3-dB modulation optical bandwidth could
be expressed as:

√3
𝑓3𝑑𝐵 = ( )/(𝜏𝑛+ 𝜏𝑅𝑐𝑛 ).
2𝜋

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Experiment No. (3) Optical Modulators

2) Semiconductor laser modulation response:-

When using a directly modulated laser for high-speed transmission

systems, the modulation frequency can be no larger than the frequency of the
relaxation oscillations. The relaxation oscillation depends on both carrier
lifetime and photon lifetime. The approximate expression of this dependence is
given by:

1 1 𝐼 1/2
𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑠 = × 1/2 × ( − 1) .
2𝜋 (𝜏𝑠𝑝 ×𝜏𝑝ℎ ) 𝐼𝑡ℎ

Where τsp is the carrier lifetime and equal to (1 ns), τph is the photon
lifetime and equal to (3 ps), I is the modulation peak current, and Ith is the
threshold current.

B) External Modulator (Mach-Zehnder Modulator):-

The Mach-Zehnder modulator is an intensity modulator based on an

interferometric principle. It consists of two 3 dB couplers which are connected
by two waveguides of equal length figure (2). By means of an electro-optic
effect, an externally applied voltage can be used to vary the refractive indices in
the waveguide branches.

Figure (2) Mach-Zehnder Modulator

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Experiment No. (3) Optical Modulators

The different paths can lead to constructive and destructive interference at

the output, depending on the applied voltage figure (3). Then the output intensity
can be modulated according to the voltage.

Figure (3) Basic Operation of Mach-Zehnder Modulator

The equations that describe the behavior of the MZ modulator are:

𝐸𝑜𝑢𝑡 (𝑡) = 𝐸𝑖𝑛 (𝑡). cos(∆𝜃(𝑡)). 𝑒𝑥𝑝 (𝑗. ∆∅(𝑡)). (3.6)

Where ∆θ is the phase difference between the two branches and is defined
as:

𝜋
∆𝜃(𝑡) = . (0.5 − 𝐸𝑅. (𝑀𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛(𝑡) − 0.5)). (3.7)
2

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Experiment No. (3) Optical Modulators

With

𝜋 1
𝐸𝑅 = 1 − . 𝑎𝑟𝑐 tan( ). (3.8)
4 √𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡

and ∆ϕ is the signal phase change defined as:

∆∅(𝑡) = 𝑆𝐶. ∆𝜃(𝑡). (1 + 𝑆𝐹)/(1 − 𝑆𝐹). (3.9)

Where the parameter SC is –1 if negative signal chirp is true, or 1 if

negative signal chirp is false. extract is the extinction ratio, SF is the symmetry
factor, and modulation(t) is the electrical input signal. The electrical input signal
is normalized between 0 and 1.

 PROCEDURE:-

A) Direct Intensity Modulator:-

PART (1): Analog LED modulation response:-

1. Connect the block diagram shown in figure (4), use the blocks in the
component library as follows:

 From the Component Library, select Default > Transmitters > Pulse
Generators > Electrical.

 Drag the Sine Generator to the Main layout.

 From the Component Library, select Default > Transmitters Library >
Optical Sources.

 Drag the LED to the Main layout.

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Experiment No. (3) Optical Modulators

 From the Component Library, select Default > Receivers Library >
Photodetectors.

 Drag the Photodetector PIN to the Main layout.

 From the Component Library, select Default > Filters Library > Electrical.

 Drag the Low Pass Bessel Filter to the Main layout.

 From the Component Library, select Default > Visualizer Library > Optical.

 Drag the Optical Time Domain Visualizer to the Main layout.

 From the Component Library, select Default > Visualizer Library >
Electrical.

 Drag the Oscilloscope Visualizer to the Main layout.

2. Press double click on sine generator and set frequency to 3e6 (3 MHz), then
press double click on the Main layout: (select set bit rate at simulation
window, set bit rate to 100e6 (100 M bit/s), set sequence length to 64 bits,
and set samples per bit to 64.
3. From the File menu, select Calculate then click the play button (►).
4. Draw the electrical analog signal, the optical transmitted signal, the detected
signal, and the electrical received signal at all Visualizers.

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Experiment No. (3) Optical Modulators

PART (2): Digital LED modulation response:-

1. Connect the block diagram shown in figure (5), use the blocks in the
component library as follows:

 From the Component Library, select Default > Transmitters Library > Bit
Sequence Generators.

 Drag the Pseudo-Random Bit Sequence Generator to the Main layout.

 From the Component Library, select Default > Transmitters > Pulse
Generators > Electrical.

 Drag the NRZ Pulse Generator to the Main layout.

 From the Component Library, select Default > Transmitters Library >
Optical Sources.

 Drag the LED to the Main layout.

 From the Component Library, select Default > Receivers Library >
Photodetectors.

 Drag the Photodetector PIN to the Main layout.

 From the Component Library, select Default > Filters Library > Electrical.

 Drag the Low Pass Bessel Filter to the Main layout.

 From the Component Library, select Default > Visualizer Library > Optical.

 Drag the Optical Spectrum Analyzer to the Main layout.

 Drag the Optical Time Domain Visualizer to the Main layout.

 From the Component Library, select Default > Visualizer Library >
Electrical.

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Experiment No. (3) Optical Modulators

 Drag the Eye Diagram Analyzer to the Main layout.

 Drag the Oscilloscope Visualizer to the Main layout.

2. Press double click at the Main layout: (select set bit rate at simulation
window, set bit rate to 100e6 (100 M bit/s), set sequence length to 8 bits,
and set samples per bit to 1024.
3. From the File menu, select Calculate then click the play button (►).
4. Draw the electrical analog signal, the optical transmitted signal, the
detected signal, and the electrical received signal at all Visualizers. Also
draw the graph at Aye Diagram Analyzer.
5. Repeat steps (2, 3, and 4) with a 300e6 (300 M bit/s) and leave the other
parameters without change.
6. Keep the bit rate at 300e6 (300 M bit/s), and press double click at the LED
source: (set the electron life time and the RC constant both to 0.5e-9 (0.5
ns) instead of 1e-9 (1ns)).
7. Repeat steps (3, and 4).

PART (3): Semiconductor laser modulation response:-

1. Connect the block diagram shown in figure (6), use the blocks in the
component library as in part (2), but from the Default > Transmitters
Library > Optical Sources, replace the LED by the Laser Rate Equations
in the Main layout.
2. Press double click at the Main layout: (select set bit rate at simulation
window, set bit rate to 1.3e9 (1.3 G bit/s), set sequence length to 8 bits,
and set samples per bit to 1024.

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Experiment No. (3) Optical Modulators

3. Press double click at the laser source: (set the Bias current and the
modulation peak current both to (40 mA), and the threshold current to
(33.45 mA)).
4. From the File menu, select Calculate then click the play button (►).
5. Draw the electrical analog signal, the optical transmitted signal, the
detected signal, and the electrical received signal at all Visualizers. Also
draw the graph at Aye Diagram Analyzer.
6. Repeat steps (4, and 5) with a 10e9 (10 G bit/s) and leave the other
parameters without change.
7. Keep the bit rate at 1.3e9 (1.3 G bit/s), and press double click at the laser
source: (set the Bias current to (20 mA) instead of (40 mA)).
8. Repeat steps (4, and 5).

B) External Modulator (Mach-Zehnder Modulator):-

1. Connect the block diagram shown in figure (7), use the blocks in the
component library as in part (3), but from the Default > Transmitters
Library > Optical Sources, replace the Laser Rate Equations by the CW
Laser in the Main layout.
2. From the Component Library, select Default > Transmitters Library >
Optical Modulators, drag the Mach-Zehnder Modulator to the Main
layout.
3. Press double click at the Main layout: (select set bit rate at simulation
window, set bit rate to 10e9 (10 G bit/s), set sequence length to 8 bits, and
set samples per bit to 1024.
4. Press double click at the Photodetector PIN, select "Noise" tab, and cancel
all types of noise by removing the sign () from all check boxes at
column "Value"
5. From the File menu, select Calculate then click the play button (►).

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Experiment No. (3) Optical Modulators

6. Draw the electrical analog signal, the optical transmitted signal, the
detected signal, and the electrical received signal at all Visualizers. Also
draw the graph at Aye Diagram Analyzers.

 DISCUSSION:
1. With the aid of equations, discuss the performance of optical modulators
at a high bit rate transmission?
2. State the advantages and disadvantages of both the external and direct
intensity modulators?
3. Compare the electrical and optical bandwidths for an optical fiber
communication system and develop a relationship between them, then
draw a general frequency response for an optical fiber system and show
the electrical and optical bandwidths on it?
4. Give the importance of optical sources linearity for analog and digital
systems, and then explain which optical source gives good linearity?

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Experiment No. (3) Optical Modulators

Figure (4) Direct Modulator (Analog LED Modulation Response)

Figure (5) Direct Modulator (Digital LED Modulation Response)

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Experiment No. (3) Optical Modulators

Figure (6) Direct Modulator (Semiconductor Laser Modulation Response)

Figure (7) External Modulator (Mach-Zehnder Modulation Response)

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