Maher, R,Anandarajah, PM,Ellis, AD,Reid, D,Barry, LP

2008

July

Optics Express

Optimization of a 42.7 Gb/s wavelength tunable RZ transmitter using a linear spectrogram technique

Validated

()

STANDARD SINGLEMODE FIBER CHROMATIC-DISPERSION SOLITON TRANSMISSION NRZ TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS PULSES COMPENSATION PERFORMANCE MODULATORS CHIRP

16

11281

11288

The optimization of a wavelength tunable RZ transmitter, consisting of an electro-absorption modulator and a SG DBR tunable laser, is carried out using a linear spectrogram based characterization and leads to 1500 km transmission at 42.7 Gb/s independent of the operating wavelength. We demonstrate that, to ensure optimum and consistent transmission performance over a portion of the C-band, the RF drive and bias conditions of the EAM must be varied at each wavelength. The sign and magnitude of the pulse chirp (characterized using the linear spectrographic technique) is therefore tailored to suit the dispersion map of the transmission link. Results achieved show that by optimizing the drive and DC bias applied to the EAM, consistent transmission performance can be achieved over a wide wavelength range. Failure to optimize the EAM drive conditions at each wavelength can lead to serious degradation in system performance. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America.