Transmission of optical analog signals with 16QAM modulation scheme using a 5GHz RF carrier signal

The specific data sets correspond to the transmission experiments carried out in laboratory settings to assess the performance of an analog optical link. The optical link is based on a commercial InP Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) with approximately 25GHz 3-dB bandwidth, which modulates the CW signal of a DFB laser diode at 1560 nm. The electrical signals driving the modulator were generated using a arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) with 20GHz analog bandwidth and 65GSa/s sampling rate (Keysight M8195A). Electrical 16QAM signals at 1GBaud having a 5GHz RF carrier and utilizing Raised Cosine pulse shaping filters were used to feed the MZM. The detection of the back-to-back signals was realized by means of a single 40GHz photodiode. The signals were acquired, sampled and stored using  Agilent Infinium DSO-X93304Q 33GHz, 80GSa/s real time oscilloscope.

The data sets have the name format of "ModulatorType_ModulationFormat_RFcarierFrequency_SignalBandwidth_FIlterType_Roll-offFactor_OpticalReceivedPower_#of run.bin" . As an example "MZM_16QAM_5GHz_1Gbaud_RC_035_-3dbm_run0.bin".

For each experimental set two instances were captured "run0, run1" in a slightly different time.