title: Theoretical study of the spurious-free dynamic range of a tunable delay line based on slow light in SOA.
abstract: We developed a predictive model describing harmonic generation and intermodulation distortions in semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs). This model takes into account the variations of the saturation parameters along the propagation axis inside the SOA, and uses a rigorous expression of the gain oscillations harmonics. We derived the spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) of a slow light delay line based on coherent population oscillation (CPO) effects, in a frequency range covering radar applications (from 40 kHz up to 30 GHz), and for a large range of injected currents. The influence of the high order distortions in the input microwave spectrum is discussed, and in particular, an interpretation of the SFDR improvement of a Mach-Zehnder modulator by CPOs effects in a SOA is given.
authors.affiliation: Thales Research & Technology, 1 av Augustin Fresnel, 91767 Palaiseau Cedex, France. perrine.berger@thalesgroup.com
authors.forename: Perrine
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bourderionnet
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alouini
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bretenaker
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dolfi
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008027:Light; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009991:Oscillometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012666:Semiconductors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity