7

ABSTRACT

LiNbO3 Optical Frequency Shifter/SSB Modulator

Kaoru Higuma, Yoshihiro Hashimoto, Satoshi Oikawa Optoelectronic Research Group, New Technology Research Laboratory Tetsuya Kawanishi, Masayuki Izutsu Communications Research Laboratory Yasuyuki Ozeki, Shinji Nakadai, Masahiro Tsuchiya University of Tokyo

As described in 2002 SOC Tech. Report, an optical single side-band modulator(OSSBM) using x-cut LN crystal was developed and it was succssfully demonstrated that an OSSBM has easy operationality and good performance of carrier and side-band suppressing. For practical application of an OSSBM, we have been tring to stabilize its DC drift and investigated how or in what field it should be made use of with some other research laboratories. In this report, those investigated issues are reviewed.

1 Introduction
Although there still are high expectations for broadbanddriven increases in communication capacity, the extended IT recession and other factors make it an important requirement for the communication network of the future to be capable of efficient, low-cost implementation. The wavelength multiplexing method, which has been used in conventional network implementations, can no longer be expected to bring any substantial capacity increases or cost reductions since it has almost used up the available bandwidths of optical amplifiers within the C and L bands. Thus, the development of new efficient communication technologies that are not focused entirely on increasing backbone capacity is required to provide at low cost an environment that enables users to receive highcapacity wireless LAN services and high-capacity communication services represented by FTTH as they desire; and energetic R&D efforts to that end are being carried on by various groups. One possible strategy for efficient system implementation involves bringing the information transfer capability of the relay node, one of the current fiber-optic communication network component technologies, closer to the backbone transmission capability, i.e., increasing the transfer processing speed of the node, or converting it into an optical component. This would enable the achievement of smooth data flow and construction of highly cost-effective networks, leading to the fulfillment of end user requirements. It can be said that one of the major challenges to be addressed in order to revitalize the optical communication industry in future is to focus on implementing the so-called photonic network like the one described above, and in particular and establishing technologies for increasing the efficiency of the node and converting it to optics, while following in the footsteps of past technology developments for the enhancement of backbone capacity, including the development of new frequency bands, modulation methods with high frequency utilization rates, and fiber that effectively compensates for diffusion1). The OSSBM developed by the Optoelectronics Research Group is a modulator that effectively enhances the tolerance of fibers to non-linear effects and increases the frequency utilization rate, due to its ability to reduce the signal band of the carrier approximately by half while suppressing the carrier; and

38

TECHNICAL REPORT 2003 Papaer

it can contribute to efficient system operation as stated in the 2002 SOC Technical Report. It was also stated in the Report that this modulator functions as a frequency shifter for RF single tone inputs. It is characterized by its ability to shift frequencies of up to about 40 GHz variably and with high precision. The CRL Optical Information Technology Group demonstrated that the use of OSSBM as a frequency shifter in particular would offer potential for improving the efficiency of node technology in future as mentioned above. Further, Tsuchiya Lab of the University of Tokyo Electrical Engineering Department did not view OSSBM merely as a device for reducing the occupied bandwidth by half but showed that it can be used as a modulator for realizing new modulation methods by making the most of its nested structure with two MachZhender waveguides arranged parallel to each other. The lab is also conducting tests on the proposed unique application possibilities of OSSBM, including using it as an extremely high-frequency (EHF) wave generator, taking advantage of its flexible spectrum control capability. In addition, it has been found in connection with the recent deregulation of EHF (60 GHz band) resources that OSSBM can possibly help also in the area of future fiber-optic wireless communication where antenna stations are linked via fiber with a central station. Examples of the foregoing applications are introduced below.

channels. No conversion to electric signals takes place here; and the switching speed, which is directly dependent on the on/off speed of the electric signal source for the OSSBM, is about three orders of magnitude faster than an optical switch based on the TO effect. As a matter of reference, 10 GHz frequency shifted (using OSSBM) single wavelength wave spectrum, 10 GHz shifted spectrum of 10 Gbps signals on the carrier, and a reception pattern (eye pattern) thereof are shown in Figures 2 (a), (b), and (c), respectively.
Ch.1
Dual-section FBG

LD

MZM

OSSBM
90

Data

Ch.2

Fig.1 Experimental set-up for optical routing using an OSSBM

(dBm)
-2 0

(a)
-3 0

10GHz

RF ON RF OFF

-4 0

-5 0

(nm)

2 Node Application Technology

2-1 Routing Switch

-6 0

1 5 5 1.3

1 5 5 1.5

1 5 5 1.7

While point-to-point WMD transmission is currently the main transmission method employed in photonic networks, the mesh transmission method wherein each node is connected with all other nodes is being considered to enable more efficient network operation. However, the adoption of this mesh method will result in an exponential increase in the volume of information to be processed by a single node as compared with the conventional methods. Various processes have been required heretofore, including the conversion of all optical signals to electrical signals, their reconversion to optical signals, routing, and alternate routing due to trouble and congestion. However, an increase in the volume of information to be processed has resulted in an increase in the number of electric circuits and others, causing problems in terms of both cost and processing speed. To resolve the problems, optical cross connectors that process information as optical signals have been actively examined in recent years. Against this backdrop, the CRL Information Technology Group (Kawanishi) proposed an optical routing device (a device for rerouting to avoid problem routes) using an OSSBM2). An experimental set-up for single wavelength optical routing is shown in Figure 1. Light frequency-shifted and light not frequency-shifted by OSSBM are routed by the FBG reflex zone and output to the desired
(c) (b)
a.u.

1.0E-04 1.0E-04

10GHz
1.0E-06 1.0E-06

Before frequency-shifted After frequency-shifted

1.0E-08 1.0E-08

1.0E-10 1.0E-10 195.20 195.20

195.21 195.21

195.22 195.22

195.23 195.23

195.25 195.25

195.26 195.26

(THz)

Fig.2 (a)A viewgraph of 10GHz shifted 1.55m LD wave spectrum by an OSSBM (b)10GHz shifted spectrum with 10Gbps data (c)Its eye-pattern

39

2-2

Optical Delay Line

WDM communication advances. Although the standardization of an absolute frequency reference in the 1.5 m band using acetylene absorption lines is in progress, OSSBM can also be used to generate wavelength grids that correspond to the ever expanding range of wavebands in use. A frequency reference generator is shown in Figure 4. For example, setting the OSSBM to 5GHz results in the generation of an optical spectrum with each 5GHz shift in the frequency of input light, and the spectrum is output every time the light goes around the loop. It is possible to generate a wide range of grids, since the change in frequency per shift can be set approximately three orders of magnitude higher than that of AO-effect based frequency shifters. It is believed that the frequency reference generator can serve as a frequency standard if a highly stable light source is used.
in put

It is believed that photonic networks based on optical cross connectors will evolve to be highly compatible with IP traffic, which accounts for the majority of ever-increasing traffic, that is, to offer an optical packet switching capability that processes optical packets as is at high speed 3). To create an optical routing device that is essential for such capability will require an optical memory to hold signals temporarily and an optical delay device to avoid optical packet collision. Like the routing switch, Kawanishi of CRL proposed a tunable optical delay line employing an OSSBM 4) . An experimental system demonstrating the delay line is shown in Figure 3. When light of a certain frequency (red arrows in the Figure) is input from the input port, the light has its course changed by a circulator and passes through an FBG with a certain reflex band (the green domain in the Figure). The light that passes through the FBG enters a fiber loop incorporating an OSSBM and an optical amplifier, and is frequency shifted by the OSSBM. When the shifted frequency falls out of the FBG reflex band, the light (blue arrows) exits the loop and is output; however, as long as the frequency falls within the FBG reflex band, the light continues to go around the loop repeatedly (green arrows). Based on this principle, it is possible to structure an optical delay line where the input signal delay can be adjusted freely according to the frequency shift effected by the OSSBM. For example, the delay time may be adjusted such that if the FBG reflex bandwidth is 40 GHz, the light that passes through the FBG will be output after going around the loop five times if the frequency shift effected by the OSSBM is 9 GHz, but will be output after going around three times if the frequency shift is 18 GHz. It has also been confirmed through tests that the delay line has outstanding properties, e.g., it provides for smooth data processing due to the absence of optical-to-electrical-to-optical
in pu t ou t put

coupler

ou t put

+ nXf )
f

loop
amp.

OSSBM

+f +2f

+nf

Fig.4 Frequency reference generator using an OSSBM

3 Application to Extremely High-Frequency Communication

The development of large capacity backbone networks is bringing demands for ultra high-speed wireless systems also in the domain of access systems represented by mobile phones. Although the deregulation of 60 GHz frequency resources in recent years has resulted in active research on EHF wireless systems employing pico cells, there is the concern that an increase in base stations will result in a cost increase. Therefore, it is now believed that the realization of an EHF

FBG

optical link method wherein a central station that performs all signal processing (oscillation, mixing and other processing of light emissions from stations) is linked with base stations via

loop Amp input FBG Reflex band (Within loop) ou t pu t

optical fibers will simplify base station architecture, resulting in cost reduction. Tsuchiya Lab of the University of Tokyo Electrical Engineering Department proposed a simple EHF wireless communication system that enables efficient frequency utilization by employing an LN intensity modulator and OSSBM appropriate for the domain of light and EHF wave integration. The Lab does not stop at merely leveraging the frequency shifting capability of OSSBM, but also proposes other applications that take advantage of its structure, such as low-cost EHF wave generators and QPSK signal generators that can be created with simple circuits, some of which are introduced herein.

OSSBM

Fig.3 Tunable delay-line using an OSSBM

signal conversion and prevents packet collision within the same fiber even when the packet length is greater than the loop length, because frequency shifting occurs sequentially from the beginning of the packet. 2-3 Frequency Standard

Wavelength monitoring technology for suppressing cross-talk between channels will become mandatory as higher density 40 TECHNICAL REPORT 2003 Papaer

3-1

Optoelectronic Image Rejection Mixing*

3-2

Quadruple EHF Wave Generator

When envisioning the aforementioned system, it was believed that upconverting after mixing in the intermediate frequency band would be the appropriate EHF wave generation method that central stations should adopt in order to enable them to respond flexibly to various modulation methods. While the optoelectronic mixing method, which requires no electrical processing of EHF signals, was effective in this respect, practicable modulation methods (intensity, phase modulation, DSB modulation) involved the difficult of realizing the use of valid frequencies due to the problem of the superimposition of unnecessary image and other components on EHF waves in the upconverting process. Thus a system was proposed which would reduce unnecessary image components by employing OSSBM in the optoelectronic mixing method5). The proposed system (equivalent of the central station) is shown in Figure 5. The two modes of LO (local oscillator: blue arrows in the Figure), generated by bottom driving the single MZ intensity modulator and suppressing the carrier, are separated by the FGB. Data (IF + base band signals) is loaded onto one mode, which is then mixed with the other unloaded mode, and the mixed modes are transmitted and detected. Unnecessary image signals (blue dotted arrows in the Figure) are normally superimposed when the data is loaded, and the idea is to use OSSBM during this process to suppress the unnecessary spectrum components. In fact, when a test was performed by loading 155 Mb/s-DPSK 800 MHz signals via an OSSBM onto 59 GHz LO waves generated by bottom driving an intensity modulator at 29.5 GHz and then transmitting them over 20 km fiber, it was confirmed that it has satisfactory transmission properties with minimal dispersion effects. * Principle of optoelectronic mixing: By optically modulating optical LO signals with IF signals, it is possible to obtain mixed optical EHF signals in the optical domain. Optical LO signals are generated by double sideband suppressed carrier (DSB-SC) modulation (or two-mode light generation) using a single Mach-Zehnder modulator. In the receiving part 59 GHz signals are mixed and then downconverted into IF signals (800 M signals in this test).
In put
f LO / 2 Suppression of unnecessary spectra!!

Further, an EHF wave generation method is also being investigated. The regular two-mode light generation method (DSB-SC modulation) using a single MZ intensity modulator is a valid method with such characteristics as high dispersion tolerance and wide-range performance. However, it is expensive and complex in configuration as a signal source since it requires, for example, inputting RF signals with a relatively high frequency of 30 GHz in order to generate 60 GHz signals. Thus proposed was a method leveraging the spectrum control technology of OSSBM wherein EHF waves are generated by using low drive frequencies (quadruple frequency oscillation as opposed to the conventional double frequency oscillation method); and in tests on the basic principle, 60 GHz signals have been successfully generated using 15 GHz RF signals6). 3-3 QPSK Signal Generation

When using QPSK signals as IF signals in the optoelectronic mixing system described in 3.1 above, loading QPSK signals directly onto two-mode oscillated EHF wave and microwave LO signals generated by a single MZ modulator is hardly an optimum method, due to obstructions posed by non-linearity, a modulation characteristic. Therefore, a simple method of generating QPSK was proposed, taking advantage of the structure of OSSBM where two MZ interference systems are arranged parallel to each other7). A schematic diagram of the signal generator is shown in Figure 6. Each of the two (narrow angle) BPSK signals generated by a simple RF circuit are loaded, respectively, onto the two-mode EHF wave (microwave) LO signals oscillated by each of the two sub MZ interference systems, a phase difference of /2 is created between the foregoing two sets of signals, and the two sets are then combined to generate QPSK signals. It can be said that this is a groundbreaking method that realizes both EHF twomode optical signal generation and QPSK modulation using a single device.

BPSK
MZM
Two-Mode LO
/2

f IF
f LO / 2 f LO / 2 + f IF OSSBM

MZM

QPSK signals generation

LD

MZ M

BPSK

FBG

PD

Out put
f LO Two-Mode Optical Oscillation (Carrier Suppression) - f LO / 2 - f LO / 2 f LO / 2 + f IF

Fig.6 QPSK signal generation by an OSSBM

3-4

Improvement of Frequency Utilization Efficiency in Optical SCM (Sub-Carrier Multiplexing) Transmission

Generation of IF signals loaded on EH

Fig.5 Schematic of the optoelectronic image rejection mixing configuration using an OSSBM

In addition to the foregoing, this modulator can also be applied to sub-carrier transmission systems. Figure 7 (a) shows how 5 GHz and 10 GHz microwaves, which are the equivalent 41

of sub-carriers, are superimposed simultaneously on the main optical carrier and, at the same time, are subjected to singlesideband modulation (blue lines in the Figure). Figure 7 (b) shows an experimental setup. It can be seen from the Figure that one of the sub-carriers is completely suppressed. Using this, one sideband of the domain occupied by the two sameinformation-bearing sub-carriers on either side of the main carrier can be allocated to the signals of a carrier with different information. This means that the modulator offers the potential to essentially double the frequency utilization rate.
(a)
LD

systems. Further, it is highly compatible with the domain of light and EHF wave integration. These various advantages of the OSSBM make it a device with high potential for commercialization. The Optoelectronics Research Group hopes to continue exploring optimum applications of the OSSBM while keeping track of diversifying system trends.

Reference
1) Katsumi Emura, Satoshi Nojima: "Key Technologies of

OSSBM

OSA

Photonic Networks," Institute of Electronic, Information, and Communication Engineers Journal, Vol. 85, No. 5, pp. 370-377. 2) Tetsuya Kawanishi, Satoshi Oikawa, Kaoru Higuma,

90

M i xer

Am p

Masayuki Izutsu: "High-Speed Wavelength Switch Employing Optical SSB Modulator," Lectures from the 49th Federation of Societies of Applied Physics Symposium No.

5GHz 10GHz

3, 27a-ZS-1 (p. 1161). 3) Ken'ichi Sato, Ken'ichi Kitayama: "Advanced Technologies for Photonic Backbone Networks," Institute of Electronic, Information, and Communication Engineers Journal, Vol.
SCM(DSB) SCM(SSB)

(b)
-50

85, No. 2, pp. 94-103. 4) Tetsuya Kawanishi, Masahiro Yamada, Satoshi Oikawa, Kaoru Higuma, Masayuki Izutsu: "Tunable Optical Delay Line Employing Optical SSB Modulator," Lectures from the 2002 Symposium of the Institute of Electronic, Information, and Communication Engineers, C-14-20 (p. 373). 5) Y. Ozeki, K. Higuma, S. Oikawa, M. Kishi, and M. Tsuchiya: "A 60 GHz Optoelectronic Mixing Scheme of High Image and Carrier Rejection Ratios with an Integrated Optical Single-Sideband Modulator Employed," IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., vol. 49, pp. 1986-1991, Oct. 2001. 6) Shinji Nakadai, Yasuyuki Ozeki, "Quadruple Oscillation Method Using Optical Single-Sideband Modulator," Lectures from the 2002 General Symposium of the Institute of Electronic, Information, and Communication Engineers, C-14-19 (p. 372). 7) Shinji Nakadai, Kaoru Higuma, Satoshi Oikawa, Masato Kishi, Masahiro Tsuchiya: "Two-Mode QPSK Signal Generation Method Employing Optical Single-Sideband Modulator," planned for presentation at the 2002 Institute of Electronic, Information, and Communication Engineers Society Symposium.

-60

Power(dBm)

-70

-80

-90

-100

193.50 Freq.(THz)

193. 55

Fig.7 (a)Set-up for SSB modulation of two sub-carriers (b)Spectra of SSB modulated sub-carriers

4 Conclusions
This report discussed how the OSSBM developed by the Opto-electronic Research Group can be applied in the domain of future photonic networks and EHF optoelectronic systems. While prospects for the future are for the growing diversity of information services and the increasing sophistication and speed of communication systems, the questions of which services will require which systems and which systems will require which technologies are still in the stage of discussion within various groups. This may be partly explained by the fact that the technologies, including OSSBM, are in the process of development and each have both advantages and disadvantages. However, the OSSBM, like other LN intensity modulators, offers a high flexibility relative to carrier wavelengths and input signal formats, enabling it to respond flexibly to changes in 42 TECHNICAL REPORT 2003 Papaer