Hybrid modulator structures for subcarrier and harmonic subcarrier optical single sideband

Optical single-sideband (OSSB) modulation is useful for mitigation of fiber chromatic dispersion effects on intensity modulated-direct detection (IMDD) optical links. We show that hybrid modulator structures based on compatible single-sideband (CSSB) theory serve as general purpose OSSB modulators. We further show that both harmonically upconverted optical double-sideband (ODSB) and harmonically upconverted OSSB signals, generated through the nonlinear characteristics of optical modulators, both provide significant dispersion improvements.