A Flexible Multi-Gbps Transmitter Using Ultra-High Speed Sigma-Delta-over-Fiber

Sigma-delta-over-fiber (SDoF) using high speed-low cost optical components for datacom enables high speed transmission at X-band. This paper examines the limitations of SDoF in terms of maximum frequencies and highest bit rates. Different modulation formats, symbol rates and carrier frequencies are investigated. A high speed 850 nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting-laser (VCSEL) is used as an optical source to transmit the optical signal over a 50 meter, OM4, multimode fiber (MMF). Error vector magnitude (EVM) less than 6% is achieved at a 12-GHz center frequency for a 8-Gbps QAM256 modulated signal.