Multi-Format Wavelength Conversion Using Quantum Dash Mode-Locked Laser Pumps

Photonics

Yousra Ben M’Sallem¹  Chul Soo Park¹  Sophie LaRochelle¹ 

[1] Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Center for Optics, Photonics and Lasers, Université Laval, Québec G1S 3A8, QC, Canada;

关键词: four wave mixing (FWM);    mode-locked lasers;    optical networks;    packet switching;    quantum-dash mode-locked laser (QD-MLL);    wavelength converter;   

DOI  :  10.3390/photonics2020527

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

We investigate and compare the performance of wavelength conversion for two different non-return-to-zero (NRZ) modulation formats at 40 Gb/s: on off keying (OOK) and differential phase-shift keying (DPSK). To achieve wide wavelength coverage and integrability, we use a dual pump scheme exploiting four-wave mixing in semiconductor optical amplifiers. For phase stability, we use a quantum-dash mode-locked laser (QD-MLL) as a multi-wavelength source for the dual pumps, with tunability provided by the output filter. The significant sidelobes of the DPSK spectrum (relative to OOK) require the balancing of the pump proximity to the original signal (facilitating high conversion efficiency) with the signal degradation from the pump spectrum overlapping the converted DPSK signal. We achieve a conversion efficiency near –3.6 dB for OOK and –5.4 dB for DPSK across a 12 nm tuning range with low input powers (1 dBm). We measure bit error rate (BER) and obtain error free transmission (BER ) with a power penalty less than 2 dB for OOK and 3 dB for DPSK.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.