D. Rouvillain

Optical regeneration at 40 Gb/s and beyond

As optical amplifiers have opened new perspectives for optical communication systems with ultrahigh capacities and long-haul transmission distances (more than 1 Tb/s over 10 000 km), fundamental limits are being felt. In order to overcome these propagation impairments, another technology revolution is soon required. Promising developments concern in-line all-optical regeneration, which makes it possible to transmit optical data over virtually unlimited distances. In this paper, we recall the basic principles of optical regeneration in optical communication systems and review the current technology alternatives foreseen for future 40-Gb/s transmission system implementation, as investigated in Alcatel Research and Innovation. The alternative offered by optoelectronic regeneration is also discussed, so as to identify and highlight the advantages of the all-optical approach.

40 Gbit/s optical 2R regenerator based on passive saturable absorber for WDM long-haul transmissions

A semiconductor saturable absorber based on ion-irradiated quantum-well vertical cavity is implemented in a 40 Gbit/s dispersion-managed RZ loop, yielding a Q-factor of 13 dB and 11.3 dB at 7600 km distance in single-channel and in WDM environment with five 200 GHz-spaced 40 Gbit/s channels, respectively.

Recovered efficiency of filter control in dispersion-managed solitons for optical regeneration applications: analysis and experimental validation

We demonstrate numerically that local conversion of dispersion-managed return-to-zero pulses into nonlinear Schrödinger solitons fully restores optical filtering control for energy stabilization, thus permitting the association of optical regeneration with dispersion-managed propagation. Experimental validation is achieved by means of 40-Gbit/s regenerated dispersion-managed loop transmission over 10,000 km.

40 Gbit/s polarization-independent, push-pull InP Mach-Zehnder modulator for all-optical regeneration

A polarization independent, push-pull InP Mach-Zehnder modulator for 40 Gbit/s all-optical regeneration was implemented. Error-free regenerated transmission over more than 20,000 km is demonstrated. Wavelength independence and immunity to crosstalk is also measured, showing potential for WDM transmission applications.

Efficiency of highly nonlinear fiber in soliton converter for 40 Gbit/s 10,000 km fiber transmission

We show that highly nonlinear fiber is essential to reduce the input power, length, loss, and noise of a soliton converter, and that it actually halves the input power and length compared with a conventional DSF in 40 Gbit/s 10,000 km transmission.

Experimental validation of new regeneration scheme for 40 Gbit/s dispersion-managed long-haul transmission

We experimentally show, for the first time, that optical 3R-regeneration by synchronous modulation can be efficiently implemented in dispersion-managed transmission. Successful association of both techniques is demonstrated at 4O Gbit/s over more than 10000 km.

Associating optical regeneration and dispersion management for 43Gbit/s long-haul transmissions

We review different techniques for 43Gbit/s Optical Regeneration targeting ultra long-haul transmissions or/and terrestrial networking applications in association with Dispersion Management. Principles of operation and recent system experiments are described.

Novel polarization-insensitive synchronous modulator for 20 Gbit/s all-optical regeneration

We propose the use of a saturable absorber as all-optical synchronous modulator for performing 3R regeneration in long haul transmissions. This novel regenerator is based on a fully passive component, which does not require any electric driving nor temperature control, thus significantly reducing power consumption. Moreover, it is shown to be polarization-insensitive and to exhibit a large operating wavelength bandwidth, thus making it compatible with WDM systems. Implementation of this novel regenerator in a recirculating loop made it possible to demonstrate a 20 Gbit/s error free transmission over 10,000 km with 2/sup 31/-1 PRBS coding pattern. This result clearly validates the regenerative properties of this novel 3R regenerator and makes it very attractive for cost-effective implementation of optical regeneration in high bit-rate long-haul transmission systems.

Optical signal regeneration for 40Gbit/s transmission systems

In this paper, we review different techniques for Optical Regeneration targeting either ultra long-haul transmission or/and terrestrial networking applications. Principles of operation as well as recent system experiments are described.

Regenerated 40 Gbit/s long-haul transmission using all-optical SOA-MZI as loss-free synchronous modulator

We propose a novel regenerator scheme using a 40 Gbit/s SOA-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer (SOA-MZI) for performing optical regeneration by synchronous modulation. Experimental loop implementation of such a loss-free all-optical regenerator made it possible to demonstrate an error-free 40 Gbit/s transmission over 10,000 km with 2/sup 23/-1 PRBS sequence.