Wavelength locking of silicon photonics multiplexer for DML-based WDM transmitter

We present a wavelength locking platform enabling the feedback control of silicon (Si) microring resonators (MRRs) for the realization of a 4 × 10 Gb/s wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) transmitter. Four thermally tunable Si MRRs are employed to multiplex the signals generated by four directly modulated lasers (DMLs) operating in the L-band, as well as to improve the quality of the DMLs signals. Feedback control is achieved through a field-programmable gate array controller by monitoring the working point of each MRR through a transparent detector integrated inside the resonator. The feedback system provides an MRR wavelength stability of about 4 pm (0.5 GHz) with a time response of 60 ms. Bit error rate (BER) measurements confirm the effectiveness and the robustness of the locking system to counteract sensitivity degradations due to thermal drifts, even under uncooled operation conditions for the Si chip

Optical Injection-locked High-speed Heterogeneous Quantum-dot Microring Lasers

We demonstrate < 6× modulation bandwidth extension of a heterogeneous quantum-dot microring laser using optical injection locking, obtaining 18 Gb/s on-off-keying modulation with clear open eyes. Single-mode lasing of all 11 longitudinal modes were achieved with <44 dB side-mode suppression and minimal 5 dB power increase

Radio-over-fibre technologies arising from the Building the future Optical Network in Europe (BONE) project

[EN] This study describes a wide range of salient radio-over-fibre system issues. Impulse radio and multiband ultra-wideband signal distribution over both single-mode fibre and multi-mode fibre (MMF) implementations are considered. Carrier frequencies ranging from 3.1 to 10.6 GHz, up to 60 GHz, are featured, and the use of microring laser transmitters is discussed. A cost-performance comparative analysis of competing distributed antenna system topologies is presented, and a theoretical approach to understanding the factors underlying radio-over-MMF performance for within-building applications is discussed. Finally, techniques to minimise thermal impacts on performance are described and novel energy-efficient schemes are introduced. Overall, this study provides a snap-shot of research being undertaken by European institutes involved in the Building the future Optical Network in Europe (BONE) project.The work described in this paper was carried out with the support of the EU-FP7 Network of Excellence BONE project.Parker, M.; Walker, SD.; Llorente, R.; Morant, M.; Beltrán, M.; Möllers, I.; Jäger, D.... (2010). Radio-over-fibre technologies arising from the Building the future Optical Network in Europe (BONE) project. IET Optoelectronics. 4(6):247-259. https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-opt.2009.0062S24725946http://www.ftthcouncil.euGomes, N. J., Morant, M., Alphones, A., Cabon, B., Mitchell, J. E., Lethien, C., … Iezekiel, S. (2009). Radio-over-fiber transport for the support of wireless broadband services [Invited]. Journal of Optical Networking, 8(2), 156. doi:10.1364/jon.8.000156Thakur, M. P., Quinlan, T. J., Bock, C., Walker, S. D., Toycan, M., Dudley, S. E. M., … Ben-Ezra, Y. (2009). 480-Mbps, Bi-Directional, Ultra-Wideband Radio-Over-Fiber Transmission Using a 1308/1564-nm Reflective Electro-Absorption Transducer and Commercially Available VCSELs. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 27(3), 266-272. doi:10.1109/jlt.2008.2005644ECMA-368 International Standard: ‘High rate ultra wideband PHY and MAC standard’, December 2008FCC 02-48: ‘Revision of part 15 of the commission's rules regarding ultra-wideband transmission systems’, April 2002ECC∕DEC∕(06)04: ‘On the harmonised conditions for devices using ultra-wideband (UWB) technology in bands below 10.6 GHz’, March 2006ETSI EN 302 065 V1.1.1 (2008-02): ‘Electromagnetic compatibility and radio spectrum matters (ERM); ultra wideband (UWB) technologies for communication purposes; harmonized EN covering the essential requirements of article 3.2 of the R&TTE Directive’, February 2008WiMedia Alliance: Worldwide regulatory status [online]. Available at: http://www.wimedia.orgMikroulis, S., Simos, H., Roditi, E., & Syvridis, D. (2005). Ultrafast all-optical AND logic operation based on four-wave mixing in a passive InGaAsP-InP microring resonator. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 17(9), 1878-1880. doi:10.1109/lpt.2005.853260Argyris, A., Hamacher, M., Chlouverakis, K. E., Bogris, A., & Syvridis, D. (2008). Photonic Integrated Device for Chaos Applications in Communications. Physical Review Letters, 100(19). doi:10.1103/physrevlett.100.194101Win, M. Z., & Scholtz, R. A. (1998). On the robustness of ultra-wide bandwidth signals in dense multipath environments. IEEE Communications Letters, 2(2), 51-53. doi:10.1109/4234.660801Flatman, A.: In-premises optical fibre installed base analysis to 2007. Presented at the IEEE 802.3 10GbE over FDDI Grade Fibre Study Group, Orlando, FL, March 2004Raddatz, L., & White, I. H. (1999). Overcoming the modal bandwidth limitation of multimode fiber by using passband modulation. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 11(2), 266-268. doi:10.1109/68.740725Hartmann, P., Xin Qian, Wonfor, A., Penty, R. V., & White, I. H. (2005). 1-20 GHz Directly Modulated Radio over MMF Link. 2005 International Topical Meeting on Microwave Photonics. doi:10.1109/mwp.2005.203548Kanprachar, S., & Jacobs, I. (2003). Diversity coding for subcarrier multiplexing on multimode fibers. IEEE Transactions on Communications, 51(9), 1546-1553. doi:10.1109/tcomm.2003.816981Gasulla, I., & Capmany, J. (2006). Transfer function of multimode fiber links using an electric field propagation model: Application to Radio over Fibre Systems. Optics Express, 14(20), 9051. doi:10.1364/oe.14.009051Al-Raweshidy, H., and Komaki, S.: ‘Radio over fiber technologies for mobile communication networks’, (Artech House 2002)Sauer, M., Kobyakov, A., & George, J. (2007). Radio Over Fiber for Picocellular Network Architectures. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 25(11), 3301-3320. doi:10.1109/jlt.2007.906822Gomes, N. J., Nkansah, A., & Wake, D. (2008). Radio-Over-MMF Techniques—Part I: RF to Microwave Frequency Systems. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 26(15), 2388-2395. doi:10.1109/jlt.2008.925624Rajan, G., Semenova, Y., Pengfei Wang, & Farrell, G. (2009). Temperature-Induced Instabilities in Macro-Bend Fiber Based Wavelength Measurement Systems. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 27(10), 1355-1361. doi:10.1109/jlt.2009.2014081Montalvo, J., Vázquez, C., & Montero, D. S. (2006). CWDM self-referencing sensor network based on ring resonators in reflective configuration. Optics Express, 14(11), 4601. doi:10.1364/oe.14.00460

Design Techniques for High Pin Efficiency Wireline Transceivers

While the majority of wireline research investigates bandwidth improvement and how to overcome the high channel loss, pin efficiency is also critical in high-performance wireline applications. This dissertation proposes two different implementations for high pin efficiency wireline transceivers. The first prototype achieves twice pin efficiency than unidirectional signaling, which is 32Gb/s simultaneous bidirectional transceiver supporting transmission and reception on the same channel at the same time. It includes an efficient low-swing voltage-mode driver with an R-gm hybrid for signal separation, combining the continuous-time-linear-equalizer (CTLE) and echo cancellation (EC) in a single stage, and employing a low-complexity 5/4X CDA system. Support of a wide range of channels is possible with foreground adaptation of the EC finite impulse response (FIR) filter taps with a sign-sign least-mean-square (SSLMS) algorithm. Fabricated in TSMC 28-nm CMOS, the 32Gb/s SBD transceiver occupies $0.09 mm^{2}$ area and achieves 16Gb/s uni-directional and 32Gb/s simultaneous bi-directional signals. 32Gb/s SBD operation consumes 1.83mW/Gb/s with 10.8dB channel loss at Nyquist rate. The second prototype presents an optical transmitter with a quantum-dot (QD) microring laser. This can support wavelength-division multiplexing allowing for high pin efficiency application by packing multiple high-bandwidth signals onto one optical channel. The development QD microring laser model accurately captures the intrinsic photonic high-speed dynamics and allows for the future co-design of the circuits and photonic device. To achieve higher bandwidth than intrinsic one, utilizing both techniques of optical injection locking (OIL) and 2-tap asymmetric Feed-forward equalizer (FFE) can perform 22Gb/s operation with 3.2mW/Gb/s. The first hybrid-integration directly-modulated OIL QD microring laser system is demonstrated

Heterogeneous Multi-wavelength Optical Injection Locked System-on-chip: a Proposal & Proof-of-concept Experiment

We present proof-of-concept work towards an integrated multi-λ optical injection locked system-on-chip using just one master laser. Tremendous improvement of direct modulation (4→20 Gb/s) and single-mode operation on slave microring laser was achieved

Development of an integrated silicon photonic transceiver for access networks

Debido a la imparable aparición de dispositivos móviles multifunción junto con aplicaciones que requieren cada vez más un mayor ancho de banda en cualquier momento y en cualquier lugar, las futuras redes de acceso deberán ser capaces de proporcionar servicios tanto inalámbricos como cableados. Es por ello que una solución a seguir es el uso de sistemas de comunicaciones ópticas como medio de transporte de señales inalámbricas en enlaces de radio sobre fibra. Con ello, se converge a un dominio óptico reduciendo y aliviando el cuello de botella entre los estándares de acceso inalámbrico y cableado. En esta tesis, como parte de los objetivos establecidos en el proyecto europeo HELIOS en el que está enmarcada, se han investigado y desarrollado los bloques funcionales básicos necesarios para realizar un transceptor fotónico integrado trabajando en el rango de longitudes de onda milimétricas, y haciendo uso de los formatos de modulación más robustos y que mejor se adaptan al ámbito de aplicación considerado. El trabajo que se presenta en esta tesis se puede dividir básicamente en tres partes. La primera de ellas ofrece una descripción general de los beneficios del uso de la fotónica en silicio para el desarrollo de enlaces inalámbricos a velocidades de Gbps, así como el estado del arte de los transceptores desarrollados por los grupos de investigación más activos y punteros para satisfacer las necesidades de mercado, cada vez más exigentes. La segunda parte se centra en el estudio y desarrollo del transmisor integrado de onda milimétrica. Primero realizamos una breve introducción teórica tanto del funcionamiento de los dispositivos que forman parte del transmisor, como a los formatos de modulación existentes, centrando la atención en la modulación por desplazamiento de fase (PSK) que es la que se va a utilizar en el desarrollo de los dispositivos implicados, y más concretamente en la modulación (diferencial) de fase en cuadratura ((D)QPSK). También se presentan los bloques básicos que integran nuestro transmisor y se fijan las especificaciones que deben cumplir dichos bloques para conseguir una transmisión libre de errores. El transmisor está compuesto por un filtro/demultiplexor encargado de separar dos portadoras ópticas separadas una frecuencia de 60 GHz. Una de estas portadoras es modulada al pasar por un modulador DQPSK basado en una estructura de dos MachZehnders (MZs) anidados, para ser nuevamente combinada con la otra portadora óptica que se ha mantenido intacta. Una vez combinadas, éstas son fotodetectadas para ser transmitidas inalámbricamente. En la tercera parte de esta tesis, se investiga el uso de un esquema de diversidad en polarización junto a un receptor DQPSK integrado para la demodulación de la señal recibida. El esquema de diversidad en polarización está formado básicamente por dos bloques: un separador de polarización con el objetivo de separar la luz a la entrada del chip en sus dos componentes ortogonales; y un rotador de polarización. En lo que se refiere al receptor DQPSK propiamente dicho, se ha investigado y optimizado cada uno de los bloques funcionales que lo componen. Éstos son básicamente un divisor de potencia termo-ópticamente sintonizable basado en un interferómetro MZ, en serie con un interferómetro MZ que introduce un retardo de duración de un bit en uno de sus brazos, para obtener una correcta demodulación diferencial. El siguiente bloque que forma parte de nuestro receptor DQPSK es un 2x4 acoplador de interferencia multimodal actuando como un híbrido de 90 grados, cuyas salidas van a parar a dos fotodetectores balanceados de germanio. Las contribuciones principales de esta tesis han sido: ¿ Demostración de un filtro/demultiplexor con tres grados de sintonización con una relación de extinción superior a 25dB. ¿ Demostración de un rotador con una longitud de tan sólo 25µm y CMOS compatible. ¿ Demostración de un modulador DPSK a una velocidad máxima de 20 Gbit/s. ¿ Demostración de un demodulador DQPSK a una velocidad máxima de 20 Gbit/s.Due to the relentless emergence of multifunction mobile devices with applications that require increasingly greater bandwidth at anytime and anywhere, future access networks must be capable of providing both wireless and wired services. The use of optical communications systems as transport medium of wireless signals over fiber radio links is a steady solution to be taken into account. This will make possible a convergence to an optical domain reducing and alleviating the bottleneck between wireless access standards and current wired access. In this thesis, as part of the objectives of the European project HELIOS in which it is framed, we have investigated and developed the basic functional blocks needed to achieve an integrated photonic transceiver working in the range of millimetre wavelengths, and using robust modulation formats that best fit the scope considered. The work presented in this thesis can be basically divided into three parts. The first one provides an overview of the benefits of using silicon photonics for the development of wireless links at rates of Gbps, and the state of the art of the transceivers reported by the most important research groups in order to meet the increasingly demanding needs¿ market. The second part focuses on the study and development of millimetre-wave integrated transmitter. First we provide a brief theoretical introduction of the operation principles of the devices involved in the transmitter such as a modulation formats, focusing on the phase shift keying (PSK) which is the one that will be used, particularly the (differential) quadrature phase shift keying ((D) QPSK). We also present the building blocks involved in our transmitter and we set the specifications that must be met by these devices in order to achieve an error-free transmission. The transmitter includes a filter/demultiplexer which must separate two optical carriers 60 GHz separated. One of these optical carriers is modulated by passing through a DQPSK Mach-Zehnder-based modulator (MZM) by arranging two MZMs in a nested configuration. Using a combiner, the modulated optical signal and the un-modulated carrier are combined and photodetected to be transmitted wirelessly. In the third part of this thesis, we investigate the use of a polarization diversity scheme with an integrated DQPSK receiver for demodulating of the wireless signal. The polarization diversity scheme basically consists of two blocks: a polarization splitter in order to separate the random polarization state of the incoming light into its two orthogonal components, and a polarization rotator. Regarding the DQPSK receiver itself, all the functional blocks that comprise it have been investigated and optimized. It basically includes a thermo-optically tunable MZ interferometer power splitter, in series with a MZ interferometer that introduces, in one of its arms, a delay of one bit length in order to obtain a correct differential demodulation. The next building block of our DQPSK receiver is a 2x4 multimode interference coupler acting as a 90 degree hybrid, whose outputs are connected to two balanced germanium photodetectors. The main contributions of this thesis are: ¿ Demonstration of a filter/demultiplexer with three degrees of tuning and an extinction ratio greater than 25dB. ¿ Demonstration of a polarization rotator with a length of only 25¿m and CMOS compatible. ¿ Demonstration of a DPSK modulator at a maximum rate of 20 Gbit/s. ¿ Demonstration of a DQPSK demodulator to a maximum rate of 20 Gbit/s.Aamer, M. (2013). Development of an integrated silicon photonic transceiver for access networks [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/31649TESI

70 Gb/s low-power DC-coupled NRZ differential electro-absorption modulator driver in 55 nm SiGe BiCMOS

We present a 70 Gb/s capable optical transmitter consisting of a 50 mu m long GeSi electro-absorption modulator (integrated in silicon photonics) and a fully differential driver designed in a 55 nm SiGe BiCMOS technology. By properly unbalancing the output stage, the driver can be dc-coupled to the modulator thus avoiding the use of on-chip or external bias-Ts. At a wavelength of 1560 nm, open eye diagrams for 70 Gb/s after transmission over 2 km standard single-mode fiber were demonstrated. The total power consumption is 61 mW, corresponding to 0.87 pJ/b at 70 Gb/s. Bit-error rate measurements at 50 Gb/s and 56 Gb/s (performed both back to back and with up to 2 km standard single-mode fiber) demonstrate large (0.4 UI at a BER of 10(-12)) horizontal eye margins. This optical transmitter is ideally suited for datacenter applications that require densely integrated transceivers with a low power consumption

Compact Modeling and Rapid Simulation of Silicon Photonic Micro-Disk and Ring Modulators

Microdisk or microring modulators (MDMs or MRMs) realize compact electro-optic modulation in active silicon photonics (SiP) foundry platforms. A key advantage of these resonant modulators is that they readily implement dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) in optical interconnects by tuning and locking the MDMs/MRMs to the DWDM wavelength grid. Compact modeling of static and transient dynamics of these modulators is important for co-simulation with CMOS drivers and wavelength stabilization circuits. This work presents the first compact model for microdisk modulators with a novel approach that uses experimental measurements and allows rapid and accurate simulation. This approach employs coupled real-valued differential equations with analytic signals in Verilog-A, leading to a 7X speed up in transient simulation time over the current art while enhancing accuracy. Since the model is generalized, it can also model microring resonators in addition to MDMs. The model also includes thermo-optic tuning for MDM/MRM with an embedded microheater, which is essential for simulations involving resonant wavelength stabilization

UWB Signal Generation and Modulation Based on Photonic Approaches

Demands for efficient and reliable wireless communications between computers, mobile phones, and other portable electronic devices in short distances are increasing very fast. Ultra-wideband impulse radio is one of the promising techniques, which has gained much research interests in recent years. It covers a wide scope of applications in short-reach wireless communications. Conventionally, the low-bandwidth electronics can process the UWB signals very well. More recently, microwave photonics has enabled a new paradigm for developing UWB techniques in photonic domain. The photonic approaches offer much higher bandwidth and seamless compatibility with optical fiber networks, which allow for scaling the UWB technology to more advanced application scenarios. This chapter is included because photonic approaches have become a unique and effective technique in microwave signal processing. We do not attempt to offer a comprehensive review of UWB photonics, but rather to introduce the typical photonic solutions for UWB signal generation, modulation, transmission, down conversion, and so on