Experimental linewidth-insensitive coherent analog optical link

We constructed an experimental linewidth-insensitive coherent analog optical link. The transmitter utilizes an external electro-optic amplitude modulator and a semiconductor laser. The receiver consists of a heterodyne front-end, a wideband filter, square law detector and narrowband lowpass filter. We performed experimental measurements and theoretical analyses of the spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR), link gain and noise figure for both the coherent AM and the direct detection links; we investigated the dependencies of the foregoing parameters on the received optical signal power, laser linewidth, IF bandwidth, and the laser relative intensity noise (RIN). By selecting a wide enough bandpass filter, we made the coherent AM link insensitive to laser linewidth. The coherent AM link exhibits a higher SFDR than the corresponding direct detection link when the received optical signal power is less than 85 μW. The noise figure for the coherent link is greater than that for the direct detection link under all conditions investigated. For received optical signal powers greater than 4 μW, the link gain for the direct detection link is greater than that for the coherent AM link. The following are the link parameters that have been achieved for the coherent AM link investigated: SFDR=88 dB·Hz^2/3, link gain=-25 dB and noise figure=78 dB; this performance has been obtained with a received optical signal power of 85 μW, and a local oscillator power at the photodetector of 228 μW. The link performance can be further improved by auxiliary subsystems such as a balanced receiver and impedance matched transmitter and receiver ends; and/or by using better optical and electrical devices like higher power lasers, linearized optical modulators, low-noise and high gain RF amplifiers, and optical amplifiers,     

基于半导体光放大器的全光信号处理研究进展

本文介绍了基于半导体光放大器非线性光学特性的全光信号处理研究进展。探讨基于半导体光放大器的光波长转换,光信号再生、光逻辑门以及光信号的码型转换等全光信号处理单元。分析国内外各种全光信号处理方案,总结其特色,并对未来发展趋势以及光子集成提出了展望。     

半导体光放大器的增益透明电流测量方法研究

半导体光放大器(SOA)作为全光集成器件的核心,在全光通信和光纤传感等领域中具有重要的应用前景。值得关注的是,半导体光放大器的材料增益透明决定了它的快慢光过渡点和信号增益的起始点,因此准确测量其材料增益透明对应的注入电流,对于SOA的全面应用具有重要意义。提出了一种测量SOA材料增益透明电流的方法,并深入分析了其特点。依据材料增益透明时SOA的输出功率与入射光偏振无关的特性,实验测量了不同输入光功率条件下,入射光偏振态对输出功率影响最小时,SOA的注入电流。利用上述方法,准确地测量出给定波长输入待测SOA的增益透明电流为155mA。该方法为实现其他类型任意波长注入时SOA增益透明电流的测量提供了参考,为其全面应用奠定了基础。     

Properties of fiber Raman amplifiers and their applicability todigital optical communication systems

Bit error rate performances of fiber Raman amplifiers both as booster amplifiers and as detection preamplifiers are studied in intensity modulation/direct detection optical communication systems. It is theoretically shown that, in the booster amplifier application, receiver sensitivity degradation due to amplification can be made less than 0.2 dB for signal-to-noise power ratio larger than 20 dB, and thus an allowable transmission line loss can be increased approximately by the value of Raman gain. For detection preamplifier use, receiver sensitivities in the Raman preamplifier system are numerically calculated in terms of minimum detectable signal power at 100-Mbit/s and 2-Gbit/s bit rates. In both bit rates, it is shown that, for a Raman gain greater than 20 dB, minimum detectable signal power can be improved by more than 15 dB over the conventional detection level without Raman amplification. Preliminary experiments are carried out using a 1.32-μm Nd:YAG laser and a 1.4-μm laser diode as pump and signal light sources, respectively. The experimental results are in good agreement with theoretical estimations     

相位敏感光时域反射仪的振动全程敏感研究

研究相位敏感光时域反射仪振动检测时, 高功率激光脉冲的入射使得光电探测器产生饱和现象而导致光纤前端振动传感不敏感, 低功率又满足不了远距离检测的需求。为了解决这一问题, 采用一种新型传感结构的方法进行了理论分析和实验验证。根据入射功率的高低对光纤分段检测, 通过相应的数据处理, 实现了光纤振动全程敏感的结果。同时, 为了进一步提高该系统的振动灵敏度和信噪比, 对比分析了雪崩二极管检测与利用低噪声光电二极管检测的结果, 并比较了声光调制器与半导体光放大器的实验效果。结果表明, 当测量距离为38km时, 相比雪崩二极管检测, 利用低噪声光电二极管与掺铒光纤放大器有更高的信噪比; 相比声光调制器, 利用半导体光放大器能得到更高信噪比。该新型传感结构为光纤传感器领域的科学研究和工程应用提供了很好的参考。     

Semiconductor laser amplifier as optical switching gate

The properties of a semiconductor laser amplifier as optical switching gate are investigated. Particular attention is paid to gain, contrast ratio, and switching time of the device. These properties are studied experimentally and theoretically with respect to the injection current, optical input power, and cavity resonances. The experimental arrangements and the theoretical method are described. As an example of the various applications of semiconductor laser amplifier gates, packet switching experiments with self-routing, employing cascaded switching gates, are reported. In a theoretical analysis the restrictions that the properties of semiconductor laser amplifier gates impose on a larger switching system consisting of many such gates are investigated     

A theoretical analysis of optical clock extraction using aself-pulsating laser diode

The potential for using inexpensive compact disc laser diodes as optical clock extraction elements in transparent networks has led to an increase in research into the dynamics of self-pulsating laser diodes. We use a rate-equation model to simulate the synchronization of the self-pulsating laser output pulses to a periodic optical signal, In particular, we investigate the time it takes for the laser to synchronize to the input signal and also, the time taken for the laser to unlock when the signal is removed. The effect of varying the power of the optical signal and the detuning of the input signal frequency relative to the laser's self-pulsation frequency are determined. Our results enable us to identify important issues which need to be addressed when a self-pulsating laser diode is used in a clock extraction subsystem, In particular, we find that the signal frequency and laser free-running frequency must be as close as possibility to minimize errors. Also, the higher the signal power the quicker the laser synchronizes to the signal, although we find that if the power becomes too large the laser can no longer lock, which would cause a significant increase in detection errors     

Static and dynamical properties of dispersive optical bistabilityin semiconductor lasers

Static and dynamic properties of dispersive optical bistability (OB) in semiconductor lasers biased from below to above threshold has been investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The OB result is found to be varied continuously from below to above threshold. Although conventionally the OB switch-off time in dispersive semiconductor laser amplifiers is limited by the effective carrier lifetime, a much faster OB switch-off can be obtained when a laser diode operates well above threshold in the injection-locked condition     

A 10-Gb/s Monolithically Integrated Filterless InGaAsP/InP Widely Tunable Wavelength Converter With Conversion Gain

In this paper, we present the details of a monolithically integrated filterless wavelength converter based on photocurrent-driven technology. The device consists of an integrated tunable laser transmitter and an optical receiver. The transmitter includes a sampled-grating distributed-Bragg-reflector laser, an electroabsorption modulator, and a semiconductor optical amplifier. The optical receiver employs two semiconductor optical amplifiers and a quantum-well p-i-n photodetector. The wavelength converter is characterized at 10 Gb/s over a variety of bias conditions at various input-power levels in various digital-system experiments. Bit-error-rate measurements at 10 Gb/s over an output tuning range of 32 nm between 1531 and 1563 nm show power penalties less than 1 dB. Similar experiments over an input wavelength range of 25 nm from 1535 to 1560 nm show a power penalty less than 2.5 dB. For a wavelength conversion from 1548 nm to a range of output wavelengths between 1531 and 1563 nm, the facet-to-facet gain ranges from 9 to 13 dB, neglecting fiber coupling losses.     

120-GHz wireless link using photonic techniques for generation, modulation, and emission of millimeter-wave signals

We present a wireless link system that uses millimeter-wave (MMW) photonic techniques. The photonic transmitter in the wireless link consists of an optical 120-GHz MMW generator, an optical modulator, and a high-power photonic MMW emitter. A uni-traveling carrier photodiode (UTC-PD) was used as the photonic emitter in order to eliminate electronic MMW amplifiers. We evaluated the dependence of UTC-PD output power on its transit-time limited bandwidth and its CR-time constant limited bandwidth, and employed a UTC-PD with the highest output power for the photonic emitter. As for the MMW generation, we developed a 120-GHz optical MMW generator that generates a pulse train and one that generates a sinusoidal signal. The UTC-PD output power generated by a narrow pulse train was higher than that generated by sinusoidal signals under the same average optical power condition, which contributes to reducing the photocurrent of the photonic emitter. We have experimentally demonstrated that the photonic transmitter can transmit data at up to 3.0 Gb/s. The wireless link using the photonic transmitter can be applied to optical gigabit Ethernet signals.     

Influence of extinction ratio on performance of optical receivers incorporating laser preamplifiers

Reports the performance degradation of optical receivers incorporating semiconductor laser amplifiers (SLAs) caused by the nonzero extinction ratio of the input optical signal. The resulting sensitivity penalty dependencies on bit rate, SLA gain and facet reflectivity are also investigated. The results clearly show that the new receiver can be more affected by a finite extinction ratio compared to a conventional pin or APD receiver. Using a bandpass optical filter to reduce amplifier spontaneous emission noise will increase the extinction ratio penalty.<>     

Semiconductor optical amplifiers

Reviews some of the recent advances in semiconductor laser amplifiers and highlights some of the device and system issues connected with the use of optical amplifiers. Particular attention is given to noise properties, system applications (i.e. in-line amplifiers, power amplifiers, and receiver preamplifiers), and nonlinear effects. Finally, semiconductor amplifiers are compared with fiber amplifiers     

Spectral Properties of Fabry-Pérot Laser Diodes and Conventional Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers

This paper presents an unified comprehensive model for the analysis of the spectral properties of Fabry-Pérot laser diodes and conventional semiconductor optical amplifiers. We develop the model by considering the wide-band amplified spontaneous emission fields and the input optical signal fields in a general frame. Specifically, this paper discusses theoretical aspects of the model in details, which are based upon the spectra of material gain and spontaneous emission power,nonlinear gain suppression, and longitudinal spatial hole burning. This paper also presents simulation results of the model for the case of conventional semiconductor optical amplifier and the case of Fabry-Pérot laser diode to demonstrate its capabilities.     

Joint time-frequency measurements of modelocked semiconductor diodelasers and dynamics using frequency-resolved optical gating

Joint time-frequency ultrafast measurements using frequency-resolved optical gating (FROG) have been used to provide a fundamental understanding of: (1) ultrashort pulse propagation in semiconductor optical amplifiers; (2) the modelocking dynamics in external cavity semiconductor diode lasers; and (3) correlated multiple-wavelength generation from mode locked semiconductor lasers. The pulse shaping and chirping effects measured by FROG are shown to be attributed to intracavity gain and saturable absorbing dynamics, as well as group velocity dispersion. In addition, the intracavity gain dynamics show a regime of transient unsaturated gain, which can be exploited to allow phase-correlated multiple-wavelength modelocked operation from a single-stripe external-cavity semiconductor diode laser. In this case, FROG techniques are used to understand the underlying mechanisms involved in the phase correlation process     

Optical amplification at 0.54 /spl mu/m by Er/sup 3+/-doped fluoride fibre

Demonstrated is a 16.5 dB all-fibre optical amplifier at 546 nm using Er³⁺-doped fluoride fibre for a signal power of -30 dBm by forward upconversion pumping of a 974 nm laser diode. Results show Er ³⁺-doped fluoride fibre is a promising candidate for 0.54 mum optical amplifiers     

Dynamic range and switching speed limitations of an N×Noptical packet switch based on low-gain semiconductor optical amplifiers

Two important system performance limitations-dynamic range and switching speed-of an integrated packet switch fabric based on low-gain semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA's) have been examined by using cascaded blocks of an SOA model, which includes transient effect, nonlinear pulse distortion effect, and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise. Low-gain SOA's were used to minimize ASE noise considering that no optical filters can be integrated in an SOA-based switch fabric. The system performance with and without a narrowband optical filter at the receiver were both studied. By assuming fixed-wavelength transmitters and no optical filter can be used at the receiving end owing to the unpredictability of arriving packet wavelengths, our simulation results indicate that the dynamic ranges of 4×4 and 8×8 SOA-based packet switches at 2.5 Gb/s can only be about 3.2 and 0.8 dB, respectively. However, at 155 Mb/s, even without a receiving-end optical filter, the dynamic range of each switch size can be increased by more than 17 dB as compared to the cases of 2.5 Gb/s. Note that the dynamic ranges were estimated under the conditions of a bit error rate (BER) ⩽10^-9 and a pulse distortion ratio ⩽30%. We have also shown that, when an optical filter with a 1 nm bandwidth was used at the receiving end to simulate (1) a circuit-switched condition where the center wavelength of the filter can be adjusted according to the established circuit, or (2) a packet-switched condition where each receiver has a wavelength demultiplexer and a detector array, the dynamic range of 4×4 and 8×8 switches can be increased to 16.3 and 14 dB, respectively, at 2.5 Gb/s     

Quantifying optical feedback into semiconductor lasers via thermal profiling

We show that thermal profiling can be used to monitor optical feedback into semiconductor lasers in photonic integrated circuits, where direct optical access is impractical. The optical output power of a laser, both free-running and when exposed to optical feedback, can be quantitatively determined from thermal measurements alone, without recourse to direct optical measurements. Furthermore, the shift in threshold current resulting from optical feedback can be determined from the thermal measurements, enabling quantitative determination of the feedback coupling efficiency into the laser.     

Fiber loop optical buffer

Fiber loop optical buffers enable data storage for discrete time intervals and therefore appear suitable for applications in optical asynchronous transfer mode (OATM)-based networks where data are transmitted in cells of fixed length. In this paper, the feasibility and the limitations of optical data storage in a fiber loop optical buffer are studied theoretically and experimentally, A model of a fiber loop buffer, incorporating semiconductor laser amplifiers (SLA) as switching gates, is described. The two major interfering quantities are cross talk and amplified spontaneous emission of the SLA gates. To limit the impact of cross talk on the signal quality, an on/off ratio of the SLA gates of at least 30 dB is required. The paper describes the optimum operation conditions, which enable data storage for more than 100 circulations even for data rates in the range from 10 to 160 Gb/s     

89 km 10 Gbit/s 1310 nm repeaterless transmission experiments usingdirect laser modulation and two SL-MQW laser preamplifiers with lowpolarization sensitivity

An unrepeatered 89 km 1310 mn 10 Gbit/s transmission experiment has been carried out for the first time employing an SL-MQW DFB laser diode and a high sensitivity optical front end with 1310 nm strained layer MQW optical amplifiers, enabling a total power budget of 35.8 dB. A record receiver sensitivity of -30.3 dBm at 10 Gbit/s @1310 nm has been demonstrated     

Long-haul high-speed optical communication systems using asemiconductor laser amplifier

High-speed long-haul systems using semiconductor laser amplifiers, which eliminate the need for high-speed electronics in repeaters and are transparent to the transmission speed are considered for application in undersea high-speed transmission systems. The potential of laser-amplifier-repeated transmission systems has been explored by transmission experiments, showing that a high-speed system above 2 Gb is possible by filtering out the spontaneous emission power of the laser amplifier. A theoretical estimation of SNR degradation due to noise accumulation of chained laser amplifiers shows that systems are possible, using 30 to 40 laser amplifier repeaters, if narrow-bandwidth optical filters are used