Performance enhancement of high-speed optical communication systems through optimized biasing of Mach–Zehnder modulators
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Abstract
Mach–Zehnder modulators (MZMs) are the most widely used modulators in high-speed optical communication systems because of their various advantages, like low chirp and high extinction ratio. However, the bias voltage of MZM affects the performance of an optical system. Improper selection of the bias voltage of the MZM can significantly degrade the quality of the transmitted signal. In this paper, a single-drive MZM-based optical communication system is proposed and analyzed using OptiSystem simulation software. The effect of MZM bias voltage variation is investigated for the proposed system while all other parameters of the transmitter, fiber, and receiver are kept constant. Bias voltage of the MZM is varied around the quadrature point, and the performance of the system is evaluated in terms of bit error rate (BER), Q-factor, received optical power, and eye diagrams. Simulation results demonstrate that optimal quadrature biasing yields maximum eye opening, highest Q-factor, and minimum BER, whereas under-biased and over-biased conditions result in severe performance degradation. This paper highlights the critical importance of accurate MZM bias control for reliable high-speed optical transmission.
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Research ethics: Not applicable.
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Informed consent: Not applicable.
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Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
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Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
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Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.
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Research funding: Not applicable.
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Data availability: Not applicable.
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