Using electrical signals, an optical modulator transforms and encodes light properties (e.g., wavelength, intensity, phase) onto light signals for transmission through optical fibers and is a backbone technology in the advancement of high-speed, high-bandwidth infrastructure for the internet and telecommunications.
A few recognizable optical modulator examples include lithium niobate (LN), electro-absorption (EA), and Mach-Zehnder (MZM) modulators. When using these types of modulators, it is imperative that users optimize for bias voltage to ensure functional reliability and optimal performance.
Properly optimizing bias voltage in optical modulators directly impacts telecommunication system performance, efficiency, and reliability.
Key Benefits Include:
Improper adjustment of bias voltage results in abnormal spectral peaks that degrade optical communications. And because bias voltage adjustments are needed as a user checks abnormal spectral peak intensity, fast sweeping/measurement speed is incredibly important. Detection of these peaks requires an optical spectrum analyzer with high resolution and high dynamic range to separate and manage any side lobes (i.e., undesirable artifacts that affect modulated signal quality).
This is especially important for optical communication systems that use dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM), as side lobes that overlap with adjacent channels which impairs clean channel separation and is detrimental to effective bandwidth utilization. For example, with an MZM, bias voltage determines the modulator’s operating point. If bias is not set correctly, side lobes can appear in a modulated signal's intensity profile and lead to signal degradation. Engineers can minimize the side lobes through careful adjustment of bias voltage and ensure the primary signal is clean and the modulator operates at peak performance.
In summary, optimizing bias voltage is essential for efficient optical modulator operation, maintenance of signal quality, and meeting performance specifications required for a designated application. Proper biasing helps achieve desired modulation effects, reduces distortion, and enhances overall reliability of optical communication systems.
光デバイス生産ラインでの試験・検査に最適化された分散分光方式の高速モデル
光通信の波長に最適化されたAQ6370Dを高性能化した最新モデル
可視光から通信波長をカバーする広帯域モデル
次世代光ネットワークの研究開発に対応する最高性能モデル
YOKOGAWAの光スペクトラムアナライザは、高速で高性能な分散分光方式の光スペクトラムアナライザです。
可視から中赤外(350nm~5500nm)までの波長帯域をカバーする8種類の製品ラインアップを揃え、光ファイバー通信、バイオメディカル、環境計測など幅広いアプリケーションの光スペクトル測定ニーズにお応えします。
光ファイバー通信に使用される光部品や光伝送器の開発や生産では性能や品質を確認する光スペクトラムアナライザ、光ファイバーの敷設現場では光ファイバーケーブルの断線などの障害がないことを確認するOTDR(Optical Time Domain Reflectometer)が欠かせません。光通信の業界で、最先端の計測技術を活かして、ソリューション提供いたします。