Transmission performance of an electroabsorption-modulator based self-started optical pulsator and synthesizer-free RZ clock and data generator
Journal
IEEE Journal on Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics
Journal Volume
18
Journal Issue
2
Pages
567-576
Date Issued
2012
Author(s)
Chi, Y.-C.
Abstract
A synthesizer-free self-starting optoelectronic oscillating-pulsator based return-to-zero (RZ) carrier, clock, and data generator is demonstrated by using an integrated distributed feedback laser diode and electroabsorption modulator (DFBLD-EAM) link. The theoretical model of the self-pulsating EAM is numerically analyzed to optimize optical RZ carrier, providing the relatively short pulsewidth, highest ON/OFF extinction ratio, timing jitter, and frequency variation of 16.5 ps, 10.1 dB, 0.6 ps, and -9 under receiving power of -19.8 and -17.2 dBm at back-to-back and 25-km propagation. The receiving sensitivity is improved by 2 and 1.6 dB when comparing with that of a commercial synthesizer triggered RZ data generator. The reduced power penalty is attributed to the signal broadening induced by higher frequency chirp of the self-pulsating EAM. The signal-to-noise ratio of the generated RZ data plays more important role than the extinction ratio on obtaining a better Q-factor up to 6.6.
Type
journal article