Large Dynamic Frequency Up-conversion by Using Parallel Dual-drive Mach-Zehnder Modulators and Balance Detection

A frequency up-conversion scheme with a large spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) based on parallel dual-drive Mach-Zehnder modulators (DD-MZMs) and balance detection is proposed and demonstrated experimentally. By optimizing the distribution ratio of the optical carrier power and the IF signal power among the two DD-MZMs, the third-order intermodulation components in two sub-links cancel each other upon the balanced photodetector. The measured results show that the SFDR of 111.9 dB$\cdot Hz^{4/5}$ is obtained for an intermediate frequency signal of 2 GHz up-conversion to 18 GHz, which is 14.4 dB enhancement compared with the traditional carrier suppression double-sideband modulation scheme.