ElectroAbsorption Modulated Laser Integrated with a Semiconductor Optical Amplifier for 100-km 10.3 Gb/s Dispersion-Penalty-Free Transmission

We report, for the first time, a transmission experiment over standard fiber at 1.55 mu m using an electroabsorption modulated laser (EML) integrated with a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). We show clearly that negative pre-chirped signals can be obtained by adjusting both modulator and amplifier driving parameters. Negative chirp operation is evaluated through small-signal chirp measurement as well as through time-resolved dynamic chirp measurement. Signal chirp control at emission enhances transmission and increases optical reach. Thanks to the SOA gain and chirp compensation for modulator loss and chirp, dispersion-penalty-free with clear open eye diagrams over 100 km of optical fiber at 10.3 Gb/s is achieved. A transmission up to 125 km is also obtained. This novel fully integrated EML-SOA is very promising as a high-performance, compact and low-cost optical transmitter for the future access-metropolitan network convergence.