CHIRPED RETURN TO ZERO MODULATION SCHEME

HISTORY
For transmitting information, non-return to zero modulation scheme was initially used for
optical communication system. The main motivation for using this modulation scheme was that
it was comparatively easier to generate as compared to the return to zero modulation scheme.
Secondly, NRZ occupies smaller bandwidth per bit.

With the advancement in technology, wavelength division multiplexing was introduced. This
consumed greater bandwidth therefore the necessity was introduced for complex modulation
techniques. WDM systems operated at distances larger than 5000km with an individual channel
bit rate of 10 Gb/s. Along with this, it was important to diminish the non-linearity accumulated
during the transmission process. [1]

After multiple experiments, it was proved with scientific results that a return to zero
modulation scheme with an initial chirp introduced in it has better performance than the
commonly used NRZ modulation scheme. [2]

INTRODUCION
Non-return-to-zero (NRZ) and return-to-zero (RZ) are important modulation formats in optical
transmission systems. In the Return-to-zero modulation scheme, the signal level is reduced to
zero after the end of each pulse.

Figure 1: NRZ and RZ modulation schemes

Although the return to zero modulation format has a complex generation and transmission
technique, but its performance is much better in the presence of inter-symbol interferences
(ISI) and nonlinearities introduces during transmission of signal and other propagation
distortions [1]. Due to these combined effects, the receiver sensitivity is immensely improved
using CRZ modulation scheme. Therefore, CRZ modulators are given much importance in optical
communication.

MODULATION SCHEME
As discussed earlier, return to zero modulation scheme is introduced for long distance optical
communication where the bit rate is greater than 10Gb/s.

In the initially used architecture of RZ modulation scheme, two cascaded Mach–Zehnder (MZ)
modulators were used which made it quiet complex and it consumed larger bandwidth.
Therefore, it was not largely used.

However, in the complex transmission scenarios, where chromatic dispersion and fiber non
linearity were present to a larger extent, return to zero modulation format showed better
performance as compared to NRZ modulation scheme.

In various experiments, it was demonstrated that an RZ pulse had soliton like properties in
which, the optical field does not change during the propagation process because of the balance
between linear and nonlinear medium effects. A CRZ pulse is not much affected by the
diffraction and medium dispersions. Along with this, the tolerance to polarization mode
dispersion is more in case of RZ modulation format as compared to the NRZ format.

Figure 1 shows a typical return to zero signal formats. The zero state between each bit has zero
amplitude level in case of pulse amplitude modulation scheme and zero phases in case of phase
shift keying. Whereas, the peak level shows the maximum amplitude, frequency or phase of the
signal.

Figure 2: Typical return to zero signals

GENERATION TECHNIQUES:
Two techniques are most commonly used to generate an optical return to zero signals in
addition to the NRZ modulator.

1) A sinusoidally driven intensity modulator is used where data synchronization between

data modulator and pulse source is important.
2) An actively mode-locked laser in which, like the above technique, data synchronization
between data modulator and pulse source is important.
3) Use of electrical RZ generation by means of gating the NRZ clock with the NRZ data
signal. In this technique, high modulation bandwidths are required
4) Drive a Mach–Zehnder intensity modulator with the NRZ data between its transmission
minima. It has a drawback of having to use exactly twice the modulator’s maximum-to-
minimum transmission drive voltage Vpi for good extinction performance.

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION:
A block diagram of the RZ transmitter is shown in Figure. 2. In the transmitter, continuous-wave
(CW) laser source is used to generate a light source, which is then passed through a phase
modulator. This modulator is driven by the differentially encoded NRZ signal. As a result of this,
a change in logic level of each signal is achieved, which has a logic level “1”.

Differential encoding can be done in two ways:

1) In the digital domain using a one bit delay feedback

2) By the use of an exclusive or (XOR) gate

In the absence of optical phase changes, the passive optical delay interferometer is adjusted for
destructive interference, which then converts the NRZ phase modulation into RZ pulses with a
width corresponding to the optical delay. [4]
Figure 3: Block Diagram of RZ Source

Figure 4: Principle of Operation

Figure 3 shows the principle of operation of RZ format. In the figure 3a, the data which is to be
casted into RZ format is differentially encoded. Figure 3b shows the same data after passing the
amplification stage by a band limited filter. In figure 3c, two fields with delayed phases are
superimposed at the output coupler of delay interferometer. As a result, RZ pulses are
generated in figure 3d. Figure 3e shows the phases of these signals.

COMPARISON
A comparison has been made between the performances of CRZ with different modulation
techniques. These techniques include

 binary ON–OFF keying (OOK)

 binary differential phase-shift keying (2-DPSK)
 RZ pulses, which are mostly generated by driving an MZM by a sinusoidal drive
waveform.

It was proved through results that CRZ pulse had best performance as compared to other
modulation schemes.

In the figure 4 shown below, NRZ and RZ modulation schemes are demonstrated along with the
two formats of RZ which are chirped RZ (CRZ) and carrier restrained RZ (CSRZ). [3]
 Figure 5: Modulation Schemes

In the above block diagrams, each transmission link is composed of

 PRBS generator,
 transmitter,
  optical filter,
 attenuator,
 receiver, and
 BER tester.

An NRZ transmitter combines the following:

 a continuous wave laser source,

 electrical signal generator (NRZ driver),
 external Mach-Zehnder modulator, and
 attenuator

The following important parameter of transmitter is to be set:

 power,
 wavelength,
 extinction ration,
 rise/fall time,
 RIN, etc.

In case of an RZ transmitter the signal generator generates an RZ signal with the shaped of a
raised cosine and a particular duty cycle.

In the case of a CRZ transmitter, a chirp is added to RZ optical signal by the application of a
phase modulation signal.

In the case of CSRZ transmitter the RZ optical signal passes through the Mach-Zehnder
modulator and then it goes through phase modulator which is driven by analog sine wave
generator at frequency equal to half of the bit rate. As a result of this, a pi phase shift is
introduced between any two adjacent bits which modifies the spectrum in such a way that the
peak at the carrier frequency is suppressed.

In CRZ, a chirp is added to the RZ optical signal by applying a phase modulation.

In the case of CSRZ, the RZ optical signal enters to a phase modulator, driven by a sine wave
generator at frequency half of the bit rate. As a result, any two adjacent bits will have a π phase
shift and the central peak at the carrier frequency is suppressed.

Figure 5 below shows transmitter optical spectrum for different modulation formats.
 Figure 6: Optical Spectrum of Modulation Schemes

Figure 6 below gives corresponding signal waveforms.

 In case of NRZ format, the optical pulse representing each 1 bit occupies the entire bit
slot and does not drop to zero between two or more successive 1 bit.
 In the RZ format, each optical pulse representing 1 bit is chosen to be shorter than the
bit slot, and its amplitude returns to zero before the bit duration is over. The ratio of the
pulse width to bit duration is referred to as the duty cycle of the RZ bit stream.
Figure 7: Output signal waveforms
Finally, figure 7 shows the receiver eye diagrams for each of modulation formats.

Figure 8: Eye Diagrams

In NRZ modulation format, the local maxima of power can be observed at the multiples of bit
rate. The format exhibits a narrower main lobe as compared to other modulation formats.
However, in case of high capacity optical systems, NRZ is not appropriate scheme due to cross
phase modulation and FWM in Dense WDM systems.

In case of CRZ scheme, the phase varies with the time span of each pulse and the spectrum
becomes comparatively broader. The chirp introduced in this signal can reduce the overall
distortion and signal dispersion.

Table 1 summarizes the numerical results from this simulation. The obtained BER values and
their corresponding Q-factors give a better performance characterization of these formats.

Table 1: Simulation Results for NRZ, RZ, CRZ, CSRZ schemes

Modulation Format BER Q

NRZ 1.12*10^-6 4.73
RZ 2.8*10^-9 5.83
CRZ 6.1*10^-11 6.44
CSRZ 4.02*10^-11 6.5
ADVANTAGES
 Optical Return to zero (RZ) signals are becoming increasingly important in optical
communication systems. They have proven to be superior to the non-return-to-zero
(NRZ) format both in terms of receiver sensitivity, and in terms of fiber transmission
performance.
 In various experiments, it was demonstrated that an RZ pulse had soliton like properties
in which, the optical field does not change during the propagation process because of
the balance between linear and nonlinear medium effects.
 A CRZ pulse is not much affected by the diffraction and medium dispersions.
 RZ control logic chips are simpler
 RZ control logic chips are cheaper

DISADVANTAGES
 RZ systems are less data-efficient than NRZ signaling methods
 Signal bandwidth is cut in half because half of the bandwidth is used to return the signal
to zero volts, during which no data is transmitted. So, twice the bandwidth is used to
achieve the same data-rate as compared to non-return-to-zero format
 The return-to-zero (RZ) modulation format is difficult to generate as compared to NRZ
format
 CRZ format has a larger bandwidth per bit
 CRZ modulation scheme has lesser timing tolerance

CONCLUSION
From the above discussion, it is concluded that in order to obtain a transmission distance of
5000km or greater with appropriate power margin and lower losses, it is preferable to use the
CRZ modulation format as it is less affected by transmission medium and is better for complex
WDM systems.

REFERENCES

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return-to-zero

[2] http://moscow.sci-hub.bz/da6c2d6b5916d52c72b9bde1600e0b6c/10.1109%4050.974817.pdf.

[3] https://optics.synopsys.com/rsoft/application-gallery/optsim-csrz-modulation.html

[4] http://www.leuthold.info/papers/0112_Tx_NRZtoRZ_PTL.pdf