Optical sideband interference using optical IQ and Mach-Zehnder modulators

Abstract

We observe optical sideband interference using an optical IQ modulator at the transmitter and a Mach-Zehnder modulator at the receiver. We measure 82% interference visibility in back-to-back configuration and 71% interference visibility over 25 km optical fiber channel. We also show the simulation of optical sideband interference using IQ modulator and Mach-Zehnder modulator. We measure 77% visibility by simulation in back-to-back connection of transmitter and receiver. We study the effect of the linewidth of the laser on the optical spectrum of the sideband. We derive expressions for sideband power as a function of the applied phase difference between transmitter and receiver in the presence of chromatic dispersion in the fiber.