10-Gb/s Access Network Architecture Based on Micro-Ring Modulators With Colorless ONU and Mitigated Rayleigh Backscattering

We demonstrate an optical access network architecture utilizing the wavelength-selective behavior of micro-ring modulators to achieve single-sideband (SSB) modulation, which generates a downstream signal and simultaneously provides a centrally distributed carrier for upstream phase-remodulation. Cascaded silicon micro-rings are capable for complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) integration and multichannel SSB modulations which can help to significantly reduce the cost of the wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) passive optical networks (PONs). We further study the power penalty induced by Rayleigh backscattering from the centrally distributed carrier and show a power penalty of less than 0.6 dB when propagating 43 km of a single feeder fiber.