Gerald Nykolak

2.4 km free-space optical communication 1550 nm transmission link operating at 2.5 Gb/s : experimental results

We describe a terrestrial free-space optical data link operating at 2.5 Gb/s using currently available 1.5 micrometers telecommunications electro-optic transmission components. The 2.4 km free-space optical data-link is characterized by bit-error-rate system performance. The optical link utilizes a 1.5 micrometers DFB laser device which is directly modulated and operating within the erbium amplification band.

40-Gb/s DWDM free-space optical transmission link over 4.4 km

We simultaneously transmit 16 separate 2.5 Gb/s wavelength data channels, with a 200 Ghz channel spacing, error-free, over a horizontal free space distance of 4.4 km. We believe this result represents the largest bandwidth transmitted at one time over such a distance, without the use of optical transmission fiber.

All-fiber active add-drop wavelength router

We describe a fiber Bragg grating Mach-Zehnder interferometer (FBG-MZI) which utilizes active phase control. The active FBG-MZI is operated as a wavelength router, where the grating-selected wavelength channel can be actively routed. We believe this is the first demonstration of an all fibre FBG-MZI wavelength router.

Update on 4x2.5-Gb/s 4.4-km free-space optical communications link: availability and scintillation performance

We present new performance results for a multi-gigabit terrestrial free-space laser communications system. The measured laser communication link performance parameters include: link bit-error-rate, received optical power, scintillation characteristics and atmospheric visibility.

Key elements of high-speed WDM terrestrial free-space optical communications systems

This paper presents key operational elements which impact upon performance characteristics for terrestrial free-space laser communications systems within the 1550 nm window. These elements include; optical transmit and receive functionality of the telescope terminals, electro-optic components as well as atmospheric conditions affecting link performance.

Optical wireless propagation, theory vs. experiment

12 We present performance results from a trial of an OC-48 optical wireless link spanning 1.2 km in New York City. The measured laser communication link performance parameters include: link availability, SONET Errors, received optical power, visibility, scintillation characteristics, and alignment effects associated with transmission through a glass window. These were supplemented by concurrent measurements from a MET station to correlate performance with meteorological conditions.

High power optical amplifier enable 1550 nm terrestrial free-space optical data-link operating @ 10 Gb/s

Optical amplifiers are an enabling technology for free space laser communications. Transmission of four multiplexed 2.5 Gbps channels at 1550 nm over a 4.4 km terrestrial link is described and modeled.

High-power optical amplifiers enable 1550-nm terrestrial free-space optical data links operating at WDM 2.5-Gb/s data rates

Optical amplifiers are an enabling technology for free space laser communications. Transmission of four multiplexed 2.5 Gbps channels at 1550 nm over a 4.4 km terrestrial link is described and modeled.

SBS suppression using a multichannel tunable laser with data encoding capability

Summary form only given. In this paper, we report a new laser transmitter device that utilizes a simple, low-amplitude voltage dither signal to realize a high stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) threshold with low residual amplitude modulation (AM). This method relies on an intracavity phase modulator to dither the lasing wavelength, thereby broadening the optical spectrum with high uniformity. We demonstrate an SBS threshold of 25.0 dBm by applying a 100 kHz, 95 mV/sub pp/ triangle wave to the on-chip phase modulator. The resultant residual AM is only 1.2%. In addition, this laser transmitter may be tuned between four wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) channels and permits data encoding without an external amplitude modulator.

An all-fiber multiwavelength add-drop multiplexer

Wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) transmission systems require optical filters to multiplex or demultiplex different wavelength channels. One type of element useful in optical networks is the add-drop multiplexer (ADM) filter. We have assembled a three-wavelength ADM node, composed entirely of passive fiber components. This node can simultaneously add or drop three wavelength channels. The ADM uses four 3-dB fiber couplers, a fiber Bragg reflection filter, and four fiber biconic taper filters.