All-optical synchronization of a 40 GHz self-pulsating distributed Bragg reflector laser to return-to-zero 10, 20 and 40 Gbit/s data streams

This paper presents experimental investigations of the all-optical synchronization of a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser self-pulsating at 40 GHz on various injected bit-rate signals. Even though there is no modulation applied to this laser, it exhibits a modulation of its output emission, measured at 39.7 GHz with a linewidth of 30 MHz. Such performance is exploited in all-optical clock recovery for a return-to-zero data stream at 40 Gbit/s. The SP-DBR laser wavelength and the injected signal wavelength are 10 nm apart. All-optical synchronization is demonstrated at 40 Gbit/s with a linewidth of less than 20 MHz for injected signals at 10 and 20 Gbit/s, respectively. Thus the SP-DBR laser proves to be very versatile and can be synchronized on various bit-rate data signals.     

Amplified feedback DFB laser for 40 Gb/s all-optical clock recovery

A monolithic integrated amplified feedback semiconductor laser (AFL) was fabricated based on quantum well intermixing (QWI) technique. The AFL works as a self-pulsation laser. It consists of a gain-coupled multiple quantum well distribute feedback (DFB) laser diode (LD) section, a passive phase section and an amplified feedback section. The free-running repetition frequency of the AFL can be tuned from 32 GHz to 51 GHz via controlling the feedback strength. All-optical 40 Gb/s clock recovery was experimentally demonstrated using the AFL with a low timing jitter.     

Single AWG based clock extraction from WDM signals with mixed formats and mixed bit-rates

A simple and flexible simultaneous clock extraction for WDM signals with mixed modulation formats and bit-rates is proposed and demonstrated using a single commercial arrayed waveguide grating (AWG), which acts both detuned multi-channel filter and demultiplexer for the input signals. By using an AWG with 100 GHz spacing, clock extraction from transmitted multi-channel nonreturn to zero (NRZ) and NRZ differential phase shift keying (NRZ-DPSK) signals at mixed bit-rates from 10 to 40 Gb/s with 200 GHz spacing is achieved simultaneously. By cascading a clock recovery module, clock signal can be easily recovered from the preprocessed signals with enhanced clock tones.     

All-optical clock extraction from 10-Gbit/s NRZ-DPSK data using modal interference in a two-mode fiber

All-optical clock extraction from a 10-Gbit/s NRZ-DPSK input signal is demonstrated using modal interference in a two-mode fiber (TMF) and a mode-locked fiber ring laser. The TMF has a Mach-Zehnder configuration with two arms along the core and cladding regions. Using the difference in propagation delay between two arms, the non-return-to-zero differential phase shift keying (NRZ-DPSK) signal is converted to the return-to-zero on-off keying (RZ-OOK) signal. To obtain repetitive pulses as a clock signal from the RZ-OOK signal, a ring laser with a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) is used. Subsequently, the carrier-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the RZ-OOK and clock signals are enhanced up to 30 dB and 40 dB, respectively, compared to that of the original NRZ-DPSK signal. Also, the clock signal centered at 10 GHz has a low timing jitter of <1.6 ps. It is expected that this method can be applied to high speed fiber-optic systems of >10 Gbit/s due to its small time delay between the core and cladding regions.     

All-optical clock frequency divider using Fabry-Perot laser diode based on the dynamical period-one oscillation

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a frequency divider implemented by an optically injected Fabry-Perot laser diode (FP-LD) based on the nonlinear dynamical period-one oscillation. Injected by optical pulses, the FP-LD will oscillate in unstable dynamical period-one (P1) oscillation. Through changing the injected strength, emitting wavelength and bias current of the FP-LD, the oscillating frequencies of the P1 state can be varied. Once one of the harmonic frequencies is adjusted to match the repetition frequency of injected optical clock pulse, the P1 oscillation will be locked, and then a divided clock at the fundamental frequency of the P1 oscillation can be generated. By utilizing this divider, we can achieve the optical clock frequency division of divide-by-two, -three and -four in a wide input frequency range, for instance, of 9.0 to 20.0 GHz for divide-by-two. The influence of injected optical power on the timing jitter of the divided clock is also investigated. It is expected that this frequency divider can be applied to high frequency division exceeding 100 GHz due to its fast P1 oscillation.     

Investigation of multiwavelength clock recovery based on heterodyne beats of sideband-filtered signal

We investigate a new parallel all-optical clock recovery scheme based on heterodyne beats of an optical sideband-filtered signal. The oscillating clock signal is recovered when the filtered sideband is combined with a stable local oscillator. The filtering is performed with an optical resonator, which by nature provides possibility for multiwavelength operation. The local oscillator could be realized by a multiwavelength laser, whose emission wavelengths are injection seeded with carrier wavelengths of the input data. The output signal of such a configuration benefits from a reduced bit-pattern effect and a stable offset level. The sideband filtering is demonstrated for 23 simultaneous channels at 100 GHz DWDM grid, each hosting a data stream of 10 Gbit/s.     

40 Gbit/s all-optical clock recovery based on the injection mode-locked fiber ring laser

All-optical clock recovery is a key technology in all-optical 3R (Re-timing, Re-shaping, Re-amplifying) regeneration. In this paper, we demonstrate an all-optical clock recovery circuit based on injection mode-locked fiber laser. We have successfully extracted 40 GHz optical clock pulse from 40 Gb/s pseudorandom signal. Before the injected signal goes into the ring cavity, we make it pass a Mach–Zender interferometer (MZI) firstly. And thereby the clock component in the injected signal has been increased relatively, which is benefit to the clock recovery. We obtain firstly 10 GHz clock signal with perfect waveform from 10 Gb/s pseudorandom data stream, and then we extract 40 GHz clock signal from 40 Gb/s pseudorandom signal.     

Optical 3R regeneration of 40 Gbit/s degraded data signals

A 40 Gbit/s optical 3R regenerator is proposed and demonstrated. The 3R regenerator consists of a dual-ring injection mode-locked fiber ring laser as the clock recovery module and an electroabsorption modulator (EAM) as the decision gate. The clock recovery module extracts the optical short pulse clock with low timing jitter from degraded 40 Gbit/s optical data streams, while the decision gate restores their signal quality. A numerical model describing the cross-absorption modulation effect in a bulk EAM is developed to explore the operating conditions, such as bias voltage, pump signal power. The timing jitter tolerance for the EAM optical gate is also investigated. Significantly improvement of BER is obtained from 40 Gbit/s RZ signals which are degraded by polarization mode dispersion or chromatic dispersion.     

基于注入锁模激光器的40 Gb/s全光时钟提取

利用注入锁模光纤激光器进行时钟提取实验,成功地从40Gb／s伪随机码信号中提取出了40GHz时钟信号。实验中,在注入信号进入环形腔之前先通过一个马赫-曾德尔（M-z）干涉仪,提高了注入信号中时钟频谱分量的相对大小,从而有利于时钟信号的提取。首先从10Gb／s伪随机码信号中提取出波形很好的10GHz时钟信号,并在此基础上从复用后的40Gb／s伪随机码信号中提取出了40GHz时钟信号。     

All-optical frequency multiplication/recovery based on a semiconductor optical amplifier ring cavity

A novel scheme for all-optical frequency multiplication/recovery based on a semiconductor optical amplifier ring cavity is proposed and investigated numerically. The results show, for a 2.5 GHz driving pulse train, it can be generated 5-25 GHz repetition rate pulse trains with low clock amplitude jitter, polarization independence and high peak power. Furthermore, the extraction of the clock signal from a pseudorandom bit sequence signal can be realized based on the proposed scheme.     

Investigation of four wave mixing effect with different number of input channels at various channel spacing

In this paper the design, implementation and performance analysis of four wave mixing (FWM) in optical communication system for different number of input channels is presented using various values of channel spacing. Here, all the input channels have been spaced evenly at various values like 6.25 GHz, 12.5 GHz, 25 GHz, 40 GHz, 50 GHz with the different number of channels at the input i.e. with 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 input channels. The simulation results reveal that the four wave mixing is minimum when the channel spacing is maximum i.e. 50 GHz with minimum number of channels i.e. 2 input channels. It is observed that on increasing the channel spacing, the interference between the input frequencies decreases and hence the four wave mixing also decreases. Also, on increasing the number of input channels/users, the interference between the input frequencies increases and thus, the four wave mixing also increases.     

Millimeter wave carrier generation based on Brillouin fiber laser with improved tuning capability

An all-optically generated millimeter wave carrier at 21.7 GHz, 43 GHz and 64.45 GHz are experimentally achieved. These frequencies are realized by generating two consecutively laser wavelengths and are detecting on the 70 GHz high-speed photo detector (HSPD). The initial mixing between the Brillouin pump and the second-order Stokes wavelengths is spaced by 0.178 nm. This spacing, which is doubled from an inherently generated Stokes shift, is accomplished through an isolated circulation of the first order Stokes wave in the double Brillouin Stokes shifter (DSBS) built with 25-km single mode fiber. The generated millimeter carrier is measured at 21.7 GHz, 43 GHz and 64.4 GHz achieved with BP power of 11 mW, 30 mW and 47 mW, respectively.     

A 729 nm laser with ultra-narrow linewidth for probing 4S1/2-3D5/2 clock transition of Ca

A Coherent Inc. Ti:sapphire laser MBR-110 is locked to a temperature-controlled high finesse Fabry-Perot cavity supported on an isolated platform. The linewidth is measured by locking the laser to another similar super-cavity at the same time and the heterodyne beatnote between two laser beams that locked to different cavities determines the linewidth. The result shows that the laser's linewidth is suppressed to be 41 Hz. The long-term drift is measured with a femtosecond comb and determined to be ~ 0.1 Hz/s. This laser is used to probe the 4S_1/2-3D_5/2 clock transition of a single ⁴⁰Ca⁺ ion. The Zeeman components of the clock transition with a linewidth of 160 Hz have been observed.     

All-optical clock recovery using parallel ridge-width varied DFB lasers integrated with Y-branch waveguide coupler

A novel device with two parallel ridge-width varied distributed feedback (DFB) lasers integrated monolithically with Y-branch waveguide coupler was fabricated by means of butt-joint regrowth. A 22 GHz self-pulsation tuning range has been achieved by adjusting independently the driving currents of the two DFB lasers sections. 38.4 GHz all-optical clock recovery has been demonstrated for the first time using this device.     

Injection locked multi-section gain-coupled dual mode DFB laser for terahertz generation

A dual mode multi-section gain-coupled distributed feedback laser with tunable mode spacing is subharmonically injection locked at 0.315 THz. The injected signal consists of an optical comb with harmonics 35 GHz apart and a bandwidth of approximately 1.9 THz. The optical comb is a result of strong four-wave mixing in a highly-nonlinear dispersion-shifted fiber. In order to observe locking of the multi-section laser, the output is optically downconverted to RF frequencies using the same optical comb. The locked multi-section DFB laser is a coherent and tunable optical source suitable for continuous-wave terahertz generation systems.     

A synthesis technique of single square loop frequency selective surface at terahertz frequency

In this paper, we have explored and extended the use of frequency selective surface towards the terahertz regime of the electromagnetic spectrum where interesting applications such as imaging, sensing and communication exist. We have discussed a synthesis technique to design the single square loop frequency selective surface (SSLFSS) at 150 and 300 GHz which have found suitable application in the fast analysis and fabrication of the frequency selective surface. Moreover, the analytical results have been supported by the CST Microwave Studio and Ansoft HFSS commercial simulators. We have discussed the angular insensitivity of the SSLFSS at 150 GHz as well as 300 GHz. However, the specific problems arise at terahertz frequencies as compared to the radio and microwave frequencies are the ohmic losses. The proposed analysis has been extended from 100 GHz to 350 GHz to discuss the ohmic and dielectric losses. We have also discussed the other important issues which are very much significant in the terahertz regime of the spectrum such as skin depth and surface roughness.     

Optical demultiplexing of millimeter-wave subcarriers for wireless channel distribution employing dual wavelength FBGs

An optical mm-wave demultiplexer is presented. Double sideband modulation with suppressed optical carrier and filtering properties of dual overwritten fiber Bragg gratings are the fundamentals for optical demultiplexing of mm-wave radio-on-fiber signals: using a single optical carrier, Millimeter-wave signals of 20 and 40 GHz frequencies carrying independent data are created, transmitted over fiber, demultiplexed and wireless distributed to be detected and data recovered in a mobile unit. Double sideband modulation with suppressed optical carrier yields no power penalty due to chromatic dispersion, while the filtering properties of the dual overwritten fiber Bragg gratings allow less than −40 dB electrical power interchannel leakage. Independent 2.5 Gb/s On-Off-keyed data have been successfully transmitted through the 20 and 40 GHz channels.     

Experimental study of a semiconductor laser diode having a Mach–Zehnder interferometer in the cavity

The performance of a semiconductor laser diode that has an asymmetric Mach–Zehnder interferometer all-optical switch in the cavity has been studied experimentally. This novel device was designed to be free from clock pulse insertion, since mode-locked optical pulses are generated internally and change the balance of the interferometer periodically. The device was fabricated using a InGaAsP/InP buried heterostructure and the primary optical properties of the device were investigated. Lasing characteristics that were peculiar to the twin-cavity structure were observed, i.e., continuous-wave lasing power oscillation in relation to the injection current balance between the two arms, and cyclic changes in the single/multiple emission peaks as a function of bias voltage at the saturable absorber. Electrical spectrum analysis indicated 40 GHz modulation of lasing output from the twin-cavity laser.     

Ultrafast mode switching based on a micro-ring laser

Injection locking and multi-mode switching characteristics of a semiconductor ring laser with the radius of 10 μm are investigated based on a nonlinear time domain multimode rate-equation model. The stable injection locking regions for different target modes are studied as the function of detuning frequency and injection power ratio. The results show that ultra-wide detuning range of ∼100 GHz wide at 5 dB injection power ratio and ultra-low switching power ratio of −27 dB can be realized for this micro-ring laser device. Optimal detuning value and high injection power lead to the minimal switching time. An ultrafast response time of 10 ps indicates that a 10 μm-radius SRL can be utilized for ultrafast all-optical scenarios and high-speed tunable lasers.     

All-optical clock recovery of 20 Gbit/s NRZ-DPSK signals using polarization-maintaining fiber loop mirror filter and semiconductor optical amplifier fiber ring laser

All-optical clock recovery (CR) from 20 Gbit/s nonreturn-to-zero differential phase-shift-keying (NRZ-DPSK) signals are demonstrated experimentally by using a polarization-maintaining fiber loop mirror filter (PMF-LMF) and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) fiber ring laser. Only by adjusting polarization controller (PC), NRZ-DPSK signals were conveniently and fast converted to pseudo return-to-zero (PRZ) signal via PMF-LMF. Then the PRZ signals are injected into the SOA fiber laser for CR. The recovered clock signals is with the extinction ratio (ER) of 10 dB and the root-mean-square (RMS) timing jitter of 750 fs in 2³¹ − 1 long pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS) NRZ-DPSK signals measurement. Moreover, the broad wavelength tunability of recovered clock stemmed from the use of SOAs as modulator and the gain medium are shown too.