Maximum RF Input Signal on the Electro-Optic Modulator Transmission Boundary Area for Harmonic Distortion Compensation in Analog Radio Over Fiber

In this study, we perform an analytical investigation of the electro-optic (EO), Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) transmission boundary area with a nonlinear model. We propose a nonlinear model that represents the allowable RF input amplitude within the MZM transmission boundary area. We investigate the maximum RF input amplitude and confine its harmonics using nonlinear model theory, RoF simulation, and MZM characteristic experiments. The maximum RF input amplitude in the MZM transmission boundary area is a convenient technique that can confine harmonics without an optical amplifier, optical filter, or other optical devices in RoF links. We select several RF input amplitudes within the MZM boundary area and account for harmonic distortion in the investigation. The RF input amplitude is 0.8 times of the EO modulator switching voltages. The boundary areas show that near the switching voltage value, the harmonics-to-main RF ratio (HMR) is less than 10%. Furthermore, the maximum RF inputs are still appropriate for QPSK modulation. We evaluate the nonlinear model of these modulation signals in terms of the error vector magnitude and constellation diagram. After considering the optical fiber impairment, thermal noise, and harmonics distortion in the nonlinear model with the modulation signal of QPSK, the ACLR and EVMs satisfy the 3GPP specification. The nonlinear models are appropriate for a small or medium sized of radio-over-fiber links.