Calibration-free measurement of high-speed Mach–Zehnder modulator based on low-frequency detection

A calibration-free electrical method is demonstrated for measuring the frequency response of high-speed Mach–Zehnder modulators (MZMs) based on low-frequency detection. The method achieves the high-frequency modulation index and half-wave voltage measurement of MZMs by the low-frequency electrical spectrum analysis of the two-tone and bias-modulated optical signal. Moreover, it eliminates the need for correcting the responsivity fluctuation in the photodetector through setting a specific frequency relationship between the two-tone and bias modulation. Both absolute and relative frequency response of MZMs are experimentally measured with our method and compared with those obtained with conventional methods to check for consistency.