SOA-MZI photonic sampler with post-distortion linearization technique

TL;DR

This paper introduces a post-distortion linearization method for SOA-MZI photonic samplers, significantly reducing harmonic distortion and improving signal linearity in both static and dynamic sampling regimes.

Contribution

It presents a novel linearization technique and mathematical model for SOA-MZI photonic samplers, demonstrating substantial THD reduction in various sampling conditions.

Findings

Achieved 23.4 dB THD improvement in quasi-static regime

Matched highest THD improvement in dynamic regime

Validated model for continuous-wave and sinusoidal signals

Abstract

We present a post-distortion linearization technique for a Semiconductor Optical Amplifier Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (SOA-MZI) photonic sampler. The sampling source is an active mode-locked laser producing 12.6 ps-width pulses with a repetition frequency of 10 GHz. The mathematical model for the linearization technique is presented, and then evaluated for the quasi-static regime, i.e. sampling continuous-wave signals, and for the dynamic regime, i.e. sampling sinusoidal signals. A significant improvement in terms of Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) equal to 23.4 dB is observed for a modulation index equal to 80% in the quasi-static regime, matching the highest observed THD improvement in the dynamic regime.