Regan Watts

High performance mode locking characteristics of single section quantum dash lasers.

Mode locking features of single section quantum dash based lasers are investigated. Particular interest is given to the static spectral phase profile determining the shape of the mode locked pulses. The phase profile dependence on cavity length and injection current is experimentally evaluated, demonstrating the possibility of efficiently using the wide spectral bandwidth exhibited by these quantum dash structures for the generation of high peak power sub-picosecond pulses with low radio frequency linewidths.

Dual correlated pumping scheme for phase noise preservation in all-optical wavelength conversion.

We study the effect of transfer of phase noise in different four wave mixing schemes using a coherent phase noise measurement technique. The nature of phase noise transfer from the pump to the generated wavelengths is shown to be independent of the type of phase noise (1 / f or white noise frequency components). We then propose a novel scheme using dual correlated pumps to prevent the increase in phase noise in the conjugate wavelengths. The proposed scheme is experimentally verified by the all-optical wavelength conversion of a DQPSK signal at 10.7 GBaud.

Flexible terabit/s Nyquist-WDM super-channels using a gain-switched comb source

Terabit/s super-channels are likely to become the standard for next-generation optical networks and optical interconnects. A particularly promising approach exploits optical frequency combs for super-channel generation. We show that injection locking of a gain-switched laser diode can be used to generate frequency combs that are particularly well suited for terabit/s super-channel transmission. This approach stands out due to its extraordinary stability and flexibility in tuning both center wavelength and line spacing. We perform a series of transmission experiments using different comb line spacings and modulation formats. Using 9 comb lines and 16QAM signaling, an aggregate line rate (net data rate) of 1.296 Tbit/s (1.109 Tbit/s) is achieved for transmission over 150 km of standard single mode fiber (SSMF) using a spectral bandwidth of 166.5 GHz, which corresponds to a (net) spectral efficiency of 7.8 bit/s/Hz (6.7 bit/s/Hz). The line rate (net data rate) can be boosted to 2.112 Tbit/s (1.867 Tbit/s) for transmission over 300 km of SSMF by using a bandwidth of 300 GHz and QPSK modulation on the weaker carriers. For the reported net data rates and spectral efficiencies, we assume a variable overhead of either 7% or 20% for forward- error correction depending on the individual sub-channel quality after fiber transmission.

Comparison between nonlinear and linear spectrographic techniques for the complete characterization of high bit-rate pulses used in optical communications

Two spectrographic techniques for the complete characterization (amplitude and phase) of optical pulses with durations commensurate with high bit-rate communications systems (2-30 ps) are experimentally compared. We show that a highly sensitive linear sampling technique utilizing an electroabsorption modulator gives accurate results when compared to a nonlinear sampling technique based on second-harmonic generation over a range of pulse durations from 2-33 ps.

Tunable terahertz wave generation through a bimodal laser diode and plasmonic photomixer

We demonstrate a compact, robust, and stable terahertz source based on a novel two section digital distributed feedback laser diode and plasmonic photomixer. Terahertz wave generation is achieved through difference frequency generation by pumping the plasmonic photomixer with two output optical beams of the two section digital distributed feedback laser diode. The laser is designed to offer an adjustable terahertz frequency difference between the emitted wavelengths by varying the applied currents to the laser sections. The plasmonic photomixer is comprised of an ultrafast photoconductor with plasmonic contact electrodes integrated with a logarithmic spiral antenna. We demonstrate terahertz wave generation with 0.15-3 THz frequency tunability, 2 MHz linewidth, and less than 5 MHz frequency stability over 1 minute, at useful power levels for practical imaging and sensing applications.

Optimization of optical data transmitters for 40-Gb/s lightwave systems using frequency resolved optical gating

The measurement technique of frequency resolved optical gating has been used to optimize the phase of a 40-GHz train of optical pulses generated using a continuous-wave laser gated with an external modulator. This technique will be vital for optimization of optical transmitters to be used in systems operating at 40 Gb/s and beyond, as standard measurement techniques will not suffice to optimize such high-speed systems.

Spectral amplitude and phase measurement of a 40 GHz free-running quantum-dash modelocked laser diode

We present a linear self-referenced measurement of the spectral amplitude and phase of a free-running quantum-dash modelocked laser diode. The technique is suitable for measuring optical signals with repetition rates up to 100 GHz. In contrast to many other linear techniques it requires no external electronic clock synchronized to the signal under test. Using this method we are able to compensate for the intracavity dispersion of the diode to demonstrate 500 fs pulses at a repetition rate of 39.8 GHz. We also use the technique to characterize the dependence of the diodes intracavity dispersion on the applied current.

Quantum Dash Mode-Locked Lasers for Data Centre Applications

The authors demonstrate single-polarisation WDM transmission with capacities higher than 400 Gb/s and 1 Tb/s, and show the possibility of obtaining capacity in excess of 4 Tb/s for interconnect applications within and between data centres, based on a single laser source. Quantum Dash (Q-Dash) passively mode-locked lasers (PMLLs), with free spectral ranges of 82.8, 44.7, and 10.2 GHz, were used for the generation of a large number of carriers, enabling high data rate transmission. The terabit per second transmission using Q-Dash MLLs was demonstrated in this paper, and was enabled using intensity modulated and directly detected (IM/DD) single-side band orthogonal frequency-division multiplexed signals. The system performance was investigated for a propagation distance of 3 and 50 km of standard single mode fibre indicating the potential for interconnect applications within and between data centres. The relative intensity noise (RIN) of all Q-Dash devices was characterised, and the effect of RIN on the system performance was investigated by examining the error-vector magnitude of OFDM subcarriers over the desired frequency range.

Mode coherence measurements across a 1.5 THz spectral bandwidth of a passively mode-locked quantum dash laser

The mode coherence of adjacent and non-adjacent spectral modes of a passively mode locked quantum dash (QDash) semiconductor laser are deduced through radio frequency beat-tone linewidth measurements. A wavelength conversion scheme that uses degenerate four wave mixing in a semiconductor optical amplifier is proposed which considerably extends the mode spacing beyond the limit imposed by conventional fast-photodetection and electrical spectrum analysis of around 100 GHz. Using this scheme, the mode coherence of the QDash laser was measured out to the thirty-first harmonic, or a mode separation of 1.5 THz.

Characterization of 40-Gbit/s pulses generated using a lithium niobate modulator at 1550 nm using frequency resolved optical gating

The characteristics of 40-Gbit/s pulses generated by exploiting the nonlinear characteristics of a Mach-Zender Lithium Niobate modulator are presented. A high spectral resolution frequency resolved optical gating apparatus has been developed to allow for the complete characterization of the intensity and phase of these pulses. The use of these measurements to simplify the design and optimization of an 80-Gbit/s pulse source, based on this 40-Gbit/s source followed by a nonlinear fiber compressor and multiplexer, is also demonstrated.