A dual parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator linearization scheme based on 90° phase shifters

Abstract In this paper, a dual-drive dual-parallel Mach–Zehnder Modulator based linearization scheme is implemented by utilizing only two phase shifters and comprehensively demonstrated for a photonic transmission link. Third order intermodulation distortion is suppressed by adjusting angles of electrical phase shifters i.e. π/2 and−π/2 and a non-linear distortion immune system can be proposed for microwave photonic link. A complete suppression in intermodulation terms and 20.8 dB enhancements are found in spurious free dynamic range (SFDR). SFDR reaches 135.6 dB Hz4/5 by suppressing major spurious contributors of third order intermodulation distortions in optical domain only which ensures the improvement in performance of link against non-linear terms.