Accuracy improvement of optical vector network analyzer based on single-sideband modulation.

An approach to suppress the measurement errors induced by the high-order sidebands of the optical single-sideband (OSSB) signal in the OSSB-based optical vector network analyzer (OVNA) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. An analytical model for studying the measurement errors of the OSSB-based OVNA is established. Results show that the measurement errors introduced by the high-order sidebands can be obtained by suppressing the optical carrier in the OSSB signal. By subtracting these errors from the ordinary frequency responses measured by the OVNA, accurate frequency responses can be achieved. A proof-of-concept experiment is performed. The magnitude and phase responses of a fiber Bragg grating are measured with good coincidence by the OSSB signals with different modulation indices.