Ultra-Wideband Generation Based on Cascaded Mach–Zehnder Modulators

A simple approach to generating ultra-wideband (UWB) pulses with a single optical carrier is proposed and demonstrated. The approach is realized by using a single laser diode (LD) and two cascaded Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZMs). In the experiment, the two MZMs are biased at opposite slopes of their modulation curves respectively and the time delay between them is variable. Negative monocycle pulses with a center frequency of 4.3 GHz and a fractional bandwidth of 165%, and positive monocycle pulses with a center frequency of 4.3 GHz and a fractional bandwidth of 188% are generated, respectively. The feasibility of high order UWB pulses generation with a single optical carrier is also discussed.