RZ/CSRZ-DPSK and chirped NRZ signal generation using a single-stage dual-electrode Mach-Zehnder modulator

This letter presents a novel configuration for return-to-zero (RZ) differential phase-shift keyed (DPSK), carrier-suppressed (CS) RZ DPSK, and chirped nonreturn-to-zero (CNRZ) signal generation, which only requires a single-stage dual-electrode Mach-Zehnder modulator (DE-MZM). RZ-DPSK, CSRZ-DPSK, or CNRZ signals can be generated via the same configuration by changing the DE-MZM operating conditions. Analytical derivation and simulation on signal generation and wavelength-division-multiplexed transmission was also carried out to justify the equivalence of the proposed scheme and conventional methods. The proposed scheme is expected to be more cost-effective due to the reduction in required modulator number.