PULSE AMPLIFICATION WITH TRAVELING-WAVE SEMICONDUCTOR OPTICAL AMPLIFIER

Contents:

basic properties of SOA gain saturation and gain recovery effects SOA for pulse compression SOA as wavelength converter XGM and FWM

SOA as in-line amplifiers conclusion

Description of traveling wave SOA

ps intra-band processes: electron-electron scattering and electron

photon scattering

smaller than 0.1

the density-matrix approach

larger than 0.1

ps

inter-band processes: radiative and non-radiative recombinations the rate-equation approximation the carrier - density rate equation the wave equation for the field in the SOA

Basic approximations : the carrier - density rate equation

- neglect carrier diffusion - neglect the amplified spontaneous emission noise and the shot noise

the wave equation for the field in the SOA

- linear dependence between the carrier induced susceptibility and the carrier density - the amplifier supports a single wave-guide mode - linearly polarized light and conservation of polarization - neglect the group-velocity dispersion - neglect the amplified spontaneous emission noise

Basic quantities and relations :

The material gain coefficient gm (t) = g (N(t) NT), where g the differential gain coefficient, N(t) the carrier density, NT the carrier density at transparency point. The net gain coefficient g(t)= gm (t)-inn, where - the optical confinement factor, inn effective loss coefficient. The gain for a traveling wave SOA G=exp (g(t)L), where L is the length of the amplifier

P(N ,t )L d N Ip N , = N (t ) N g T V h d t qV C

P (N ,t ) P(N ,t ) k k k

where Ip is the pump current and the carrier lifetime C-1 = A + BN+CN2 The output optical field Eout(t) = Ein(t)exp[(1+jbC)g(t) / 2]

NT L w d V = Lwd d bc A B C Esat = hv m / d m = w d /

the transparency value the confinement factor length of SOA width of SOA thickness of SOA the volume of SOA the gain cross section, the differential gain the line-width enhancement factor the non-radiative coefficient due to the recombination of defects the spontaneous radiative recombination coefficient the Auger coefficient the saturation energy the cross-section area of the wave-guide mode

basic properties of SOA - gain saturation effect

Gaussian pulse Calculation parameters:

N= 512 points; Bit Rate B= 71.4 Gb/s TB = 14 ps

Pulse parameters:
Gaussian pulse E0 ~ 0.73 pJ; T0 ~ 7.9 ps P~ 50 mW

SOA parameters:

The carrier lifetime C ~ 1.4 ns, The saturation energy Esat ~ 3.7 pJ, G0 ~ 30 dB

Therefore: T0 /C ~ 0.006

E0 / Esat ~0.2

initial pulse

initial spectrum

pulse after SOA

pulse spectrum after SOA

Observed properties: asymmetric pulse , leading part sharper compared with the trailing one increased TFWHM multi-peak structure red shift of dominant peak ~ 120 GHz

the phase follows time evolution of gain, gain has no time to recover

negative value across the entire pulse increases towards the trailing part

G.P. Agrawal and N.A. Olsson, Self_phase modulation and spectral broadening of optical pulses in semiconductor laser amplifiers, IEEE Journal of Quantum electronics, vol. 25, pp.2297-2306, 1989

basic properties of SOA - gain saturation effect Gaussian pulse - comparison with experimental results Parameters from the experiment:
T0 = 9.3ps, C ~ 0.200 ns T0 /C ~ 0.0465, E0 ~ 0.18 pJ, Esat ~ 6 pJ, E0 / Esat ~0.03 , G0 ~30 dB

Calculation parameters:
Bit Rate B= 40 Gb/s TB = 25 ps, duty cycle = 0.624 TFWHM = 15.6 ps T0 ~ 9.4

ps; The carrier lifetime C ~ 1.4 ns, The saturation energy Esat ~ 3.7 pJ Optical confinement factor ~ 0.3, G0 ~30 dB

SOA parameters:

Pulse parameters:
Gaussian pulse E0 ~ 0.017 pJ; T0 ~ 9.4 ps P~ 1 mW T0/C ~ 0.007, E0 / Esat ~ 0.004

pulse after SOA

pulse spectrum after SOA

the peak output red shifted with 0.3 nm the secondary peak approximately 0.4 nm below the main peak the main peak considerably broadening well expressed qualitative similarity with experimental observation N.A. Olsson and G.P. Agrawal, Spectral shift and distortion due to selp-phase modulation of picosecond pulses in 1.5 m amplifiers, Appl. Phys. Lett, vol. 55, pp.1315, 1989

basic properties of SOA - gain saturation effect chirped Gaussian pulse : linewidth enhancement factor 5

initial pulse and negative chirp

initial spectrum

pulse after SOA

pulse spectrum after SOA

comparison with usual Gaussian pulse: similar shape in time reduction of the red shift very different form of the spectra

phase of amplified pulse

chirp of amplified pulse

the deformation of the initially negative chirp for initial positive chirp the red shift increases! G.P. Agrawal and N.A. Olsson, Self_phase modulation and spectral broadening of optical pulses in semiconductor laser amplifiers, IEEE Journal of Quantum electronics, vol. 25, pp.2297-2306, 1989

basic properties of SOA- gain saturation effect

super Gaussian pulse : m = 3

initial pulse

initial spectrum

Amplified super Gaussian pulse : m = 3

pulse after SOA

pulse spectrum after SOA

comparison with usual Gaussian pulse: reduced TFWHM increased red shift changes in the multi-peak structure

basic properties of SOA- gain recovery effect Calculation parameters:

Pulse 1 parameters
TFWHM ~ TB ~ 2.5 ns T0 ~ 1.42 ns, Pin ~ 0.29 mW T0 /C ~ 1.8, E0 / Esat ~ 0.1 P0 / Psat ~ 0.056

Pulse 2 parameters
TFWHM ~ TB ~ 10 ns T0 ~ 5.67 ns, Pin ~ 0.074 mW T0 /C ~ 7, E0 / Esat ~ 0.1 P0 / Psat ~ 0.014

SOA parameters:

The carrier lifetime C ~ 1.4 ns, The saturation energy Esat ~ 7.4 mW

Pulse 1

initial pulse

initial spectrum

pulse and chirp after SOA

pulse spectrum after SOA

Pulse 2

initial pulse

initial spectrum

pulse after SOA

pulse spectrum after SOA

Changes with increase of the ratio T0 /C The shape of the amplified pulse red shift continuously reduces become more symmetrical the amplified pulse become broader than the initial one Gain saturation induced self-phase modulation comparison of results for pulse 2 for P0 / Psat = 0.014 and 0.14

structure of spectra similar to this obtained after pulse propagation in medium with Kerr nonlinearity

SOA for pulse compression

Basic idea: to propagate amplified with SOA pulse, possessing therefore the positive chirp in dispersive medium that creates a negative chirp. As such medium SMF for wavelengths longer than 1.3 m is used.

Calculation parameters:
Bit Rate B= 40 Gb/s TB = TFWHM = 25 ps;

Pulse parameters:
Gaussian pulse T0 ~ 15 ps , P~ 1.4 mW

The carrier lifetime C ~ 1.4 ns, the saturation energy Esat ~ 3.7 pJ T0 /C ~ 0.01 and E0 / Esat ~ 0.01, G0 ~ 30 dB SMF D = 16 (ps/nm.km), Aeff ~72 m2, n2 ~ 2.6 10-20( m2/ W), = 0.2 ( dB/km), LD ~ 11 km. LC / LD ~ 0.3 LC ~ 3.3 km

SOA parameters:

Fibers parameters:

initial pulse

initial spectrum

pulse after SOA

pulse spectrum after SOA

pulse after compression

pulse spectrum after compression

observations: compression factor of about 7 times broad pedestal of the leading side of the pulse (negative chirp in the leading part of the pulse) time shift towards later times- red shift in anomalous group velocity dispersion G.P. Agrawal and N.A. Olsson, Amplification and compression of weak picosecond optical pulses by using semiconductor-laser amplifiers, Optics letters, vol. 14, pp.500-502 , 1989

SOA as wavelength converter (FWM)

Four wave mixing (FWM) c = 2p - s = p + , where p frequency of the pump field, s frequency of the signal field, = p - c - frequency detuning physical phenomena generating FWM in SOA: ~ several gigaherz carrier density pulsation induced by the signal pump beating > teraherz fast interband relaxation processes: spectral hole burning and carrier heating advantage of frequency conversion based on FWM independence of the modulation format and the bit rate inversion of spectrum and reversal of the frequency chirp disadvantage low conversion efficiency

two CW signals with carrier frequencies 193 and 193.1 THz and powers 1 mW.

spectrum after WDM Mux

spectrum after the first SOA

New frequencies at 192.9 and 193.2 THz can be clearly seen

spectrum after WDM Demux, = 193.1 THz channel

spectrum after the second SOA, = 193.2 THz channel

[1] G.P. Agrawal, Fiber Optic Communication Systems, second edition , John Wiley @ Sons, Inc., 1997. [2] R.Sabella and P.Ludgi, High speed optical communications, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1999.

SOA as wavelength converter (XGM)

Principle of the use of cross-gain modulation in SOA: Intensity modulated signal modulates the gain of SOA via gain saturation effect. A continuous wave signal at the desired wavelength is modulated by the gain saturation. After SOA a continuous wave signal carriers the same information as the intensity modulated signal. Aim: to show possibility of conversion at 10 Gb/s.

Intensity modulation signal at 1 = 1550 nm with power P1 = 0.316 mW and CW signal at 2 =1540 nm and power P2 = 0.158 mW

shape of the initial intensity modulated signal

spectrum of the initial intensity modulated signal

signal after multiplexer

after demultiplexer at = 1550 nm

shape of signal

spectrum of the signal

after demultiplexer at = 1540 nm

shape of signal

spectrum of the signal

[1] Terji Durhuus, Benny Mikkelsen, Carsten Joergensen, Soergen Danielsen, Kristian Stunkjaer, Alloptical wavelength conversion by semiconductor optical amplifier, J. Lightwave Technology, vol.14, pp.942-954,1996. [2] G.P. Agrawal, Fiber Optic Communication Systems, second edition , John Wiley @ Sons, Inc., 1997.

SOA as in line amplifiers

One possibility to upgrade existing network from already installed standard optical fibers (0) ~ 1.3 m. Advantages of this approach: Low dispersion of SMF at 1.3 m Attractive features of SOA Major negative factors: gain saturation effects: pattern effect chirp after amplification aim: to demonstrate the pattern effect at 10 Gb/s transmission over a 500 km SMF optical link

10 Gb/s transmission over 500 km standard mode fiber with semiconductor optical amplifiers

Bit rate B= 10 Gb/s TB = 100 ps. The sequence length is 16 bit. The carrier wavelength of the pulse is ~1300 nm. TFWHM = 20 ps T0 = 0.567 TFWHM ~ 11.34 ps. P0 = 21.7 mW. SMF: length 50 km and losses 0.4 dB/km. For k2 = (- 2D)/(2 c) ~ -1.5 (ps2/km) D = 1.67 (ps/nm.km) LD = T02/| k2| ~ 85 km. (The effects of group delay and third order of dispersion are not taken into account). The Kerr nonlinearity coefficient = n2 0 / c Aeff = 2 2 [1/km.W], where nonlinear refractive index n2 = 2.6 10-20 [m2/W], 0 / c = 2 / = 2 /1.3 10-6 [m-1], Aeff = 62.8 [m2]. SOA: inner losses are 2000[m-1] and the linewidth enhancement factor =5, =0.25 Esat ~ 5.2 pJ. After each fiber the signal will be amplified with SOA, therefore LA ~ 50 km. Note that the condition LA < LD is satisfied.

initial pattern of pulses

pattern after 200 km

pattern after 350 km

pattern after 500 km

the pattern effect: reduction in the gain of the pulses after the first one in the first group even the last pulse, which is at distance approximately 1 nm from the first one, there is no enough time for the gain to recover completely (the carrier lifetime is approximately 1.4 ns)

[1] M. Settembre, F. Matera, V. Hagele, I. Gabitov, A. W. Mattheus, and S. Turitsyn, Cascaded optical communication systems with in-line semiconductor optical amplifiers, Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol.15, pp. 962-967, 1997. [2] F. Matera and M. Settembre, Study of 1.3 m transmission systems on standard stepindex fibers with semiconductor optical amplifiers, Optics communications, vol. 133, pp.463470, 1997.

conclusions
gain saturation and gain recovery characteristics of SOA have been demonstrated pulse compression based on the gain saturation effect has been shown wavelength conversion using XGM and FWM was presented the pattern effect at 10 Gb/s transmission over 500 km SMF with periodical SOA amplification has been demonstrated