Optical Triangular Waveform Generation with Alterable Symmetry Index Based on a Cascaded SD-MZM and Polarization Beam Splitter-combiner Architecture

A scheme is proposed to generate triangular waveforms with alterable symmetry. The key component is a cascaded single-drive Mach-Zehnder modulator (SD-MZM) and optical polarization beam splitter-combiner architecture. In this triangular waveform generator, the bias-induced phase shift, modulation index and controllable delay difference are changeable. To generate triangular waveform signals with different symmetry indexes, different combinations of these variables are selected. Compared with the previous schemes, this generator just contains one SD-MZM and the balanced photodetector (BPD) is not needed, which means the costs and energy consumption are significantly reduced. The operation principle of this triangular waveform generator has been theoretically analyzed, and the corresponding simulation is conducted. Based on the theoretical and simulated results, some experiments are demonstrated to prove the validity of the scheme. The triangular waveform signals with a symmetry factor range of 20-80% are generated. Both experiment and theory prove the feasibility of this method.