Reduced-size lookup tables enabling higher-order QAM with all-silicon IQ modulators.

We experimentally demonstrate 20 Gbaud 256QAM and 40 Gbaud 128QAM in an all-silicon IQ modulator. We combine a linear equalizer and a nonlinear predistortion implemented in a lookup table (LUT). We achieve bit error rate (BER) below the 20% forward error correction threshold; linear equalization alone cannot achieve this performance.