Demonstration of CSRZ Signal Generator Using Single-Stage Mach-Zehnder Modulator and Wideband CMOS Signal Mixer

In this paper, we demonstrate an electrically band-limited carrier-suppressed return-to-zero (EB-CSRZ) signal generator operating up to a 10 Gbps data rate comprising a single-stage Mach-Zehnder modulator and a wideband signal mixer. The wideband signal mixer comprises inverter stages, a mixing stage, and a gain amplifier. It is implemented by using a 0.13 ${\mu}m$ CMOS technology. Its transmission response shows a frequency range from DC to 6.4 GHz, and the isolation response between data and clock signals is about 21 dB at 6.4 GHz. Experimental results show optical spectral narrowing due to incorporating an electrical band-limiting filter and some waveform distortion due to bandwidth limitation by the filter. At 10 Gbps transmission, the chromatic dispersion tolerance of the EB-CSRZ signal is better than that of NRZ-modulated signal in single-mode fiber.