All-optical modulation converter for on-off keying to duobinary and alternate-mark inversion at 42.6 Gbps

Advanced modulation formats have become increasingly important as telecoms engineers strive for improved tolerance to both linear and nonlinear fibre-based transmission impairments. Two important modulation schemes are Duobinary (DB) and Alternate-mark inversion (AMI) [1] where transmission enhancement results from auxiliary phase modulation. As advanced modulation formats displace Return-to-zero On-Off Keying (RZ-OOK), inter-modulation converters will become increasingly important. If the modulation conversion can be performed at high bitrates with a small number of operations per bit, then all-optical techniques may offer lower energy consumption compared to optical-electronic-optical approaches. In this paper we experimentally demonstrate an all-optical system incorporating a pair of hybrid-integrated semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) gates which translate RZ-OOK to RZ-DB or RZ-AMI at 42.6 Gbps. This scheme includes a wavelength conversion to arbitrary output wavelength and has potential for high-level photonic integration, scalability to higher bitrates, and should exhibit regenerative properties [2].

Effects in the population inversion of3H4 level in Tm, Tm-Tb and Tm-Eu doped germanate glasses for amplifiers applications

The population inversion of the Tm3+ in GLKZ glass involved in the 1470 nm emission (3H4 → 3F 4) as a function of Tb (or Eu) concentration was calculated by computational simulation for a CW laser pumping at 792 nm. These calculations were performed using the experimental Tm→Tb an Tm→Eu transfer rates and the spectroscopic parameters of the Tm (0.1 mol %) system. The result shows that 0.2 mol % (Tb3+) and 0.4 mol % of Eu3+ ions propitiate best population inversion of Tm3+ (0.1 mol %) maximizing the amplification coefficient of germanate (GLKZ) glass when operating as laser intensity amplification at 1470 nm. Besides the effective deactivation of the 3F4 level, the presence of Tb3+ or Eu 3+ ions introduce a depopulation of the 3H4 emitting level by means of a cross relaxation process with Tm3+ ions. In spite of this, the whole effect is verified to be benefic for using Tm-doped GLKZ glass codoped with Tb3+ or Eu3+ as a suitable material for confectioning optical amplifiers that operates in the S-band for telecommunication.

Optimizing Amplifier Placements in a Multiwavelength Optical LAN/MAN: The Unequally Powered Wavelengths Case

Optical networks based on passive-star couplers and employing WDM have been proposed for deployment in local and metropolitan areas. These networks suffer from splitting, coupling, and attenuation losses. Since there is an upper bound on transmitter power and a lower bound on receiver sensitivity, optical amplifiers are usually required to compensate for the power losses mentioned above. Due to the high cost of amplifiers, it is desirable to minimize their total number in the network. However, an optical amplifier has constraints on the maximum gain and the maximum output power it can supply; thus, optical amplifier placement becomes a challenging problem. In fact, the general problem of minimizing the total amplifier count is a mixed-integer nonlinear problem. Previous studies have attacked the amplifier-placement problem by adding the “artificial” constraint that all wavelengths, which are present at a particular point in a fiber, be at the same power level. This constraint simplifies the problem into a solvable mixed integer linear program. Unfortunately, this artificial constraint can miss feasible solutions that have a lower amplifier count but do not have the equally powered wavelengths constraint. In this paper, we present a method to solve the minimum amplifier- placement problem, while avoiding the equally powered wavelength constraint. We demonstrate that, by allowing signals to operate at different power levels, our method can reduce the number of amplifiers required.

Routing and Wavelength Assignment (RWA) with Power Considerations In All- Optical Wavelength-Routed Networks

Routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) is an important problem that arises in wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical networks. Previous studies have solved many variations of this problem under the assumption of perfect conditions regarding the power of a signal. In this paper, we investigate this problem while allowing for degradation of routed signals by components such as taps, multiplexers, and fiber links. We assume that optical amplifiers are preplaced. We investigate the problem of routing the maximum number of connections while maintaining proper power levels. The problem is formulated as a mixed-integer nonlinear program and two-phase hybrid solution approaches employing two different heuristics are developed

Top-Hat HELLISH-VCSOA for optical amplification and wavelength conversion for 0.85 to 1.3ìm operation

The Top-Hat hot electron light emission and lasing in semiconductor heterostructure (HELLISH)-vertical cavity semiconductor optical amplifier (VCSOA) is a modified version of a HELLISH-VCSOA device. It has a shorter p-channel and longer n-channel. The device studied in this work consists of a simple GaAs p-i-n junction, containing 11 Ga0.35In0.65 N0.02As0.08/GaAs multiple quantum wells in its intrinsic region; the active region is enclosed between six pairs of GaAs/AlAs top distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) mirrors and 20.5 pairs of AlAs/GaAs bottom DBR mirrors. The operation of the device is based on longitudinal current transport parallel to the layers of the GaAs p-n junction. The device is characterised through I-V-L and by spectral photoluminescence, electroluminescence and electro-photoluminescence measurements. An amplification of about 25 dB is observed at applied voltages of around V = 88 V.

Secure transmission of information by digital chaotic signals

Protecting signals is one of the main tasks in information transmission. A large number of different methods have been employed since many centuries ago. Most of them have been based on the use of certain signal added to the original one. When the composed signal is received, if the added signal is known, the initial information may be obtained. The main problem is the type of masking signal employed. One possibility is the use of chaotic signals, but they have a first strong limitation: the need to synchronize emitter and receiver. Optical communications systems, based on chaotic signals, have been proposed in a large number of papers. Moreover, because most of the communication systems are digital and conventional chaos generators are analogue, a conversion analogue-digital is needed. In this paper we will report a new system where the digital chaos is obtained from an optically programmable logic structure. This structure has been employed by the authors in optical computing and some previous results in chaotic signals have been reported. The main advantage of this new system is that an analogue-digital conversion is not needed. Previous works by the authors employed Self-Electrooptical Effect Devices but in this case more conventional structures, as semiconductor laser amplifiers, have been employed. The way to analyze the characteristics of digital chaotic signals will be reported as well as the method to synchronize the chaos generators located in the emitter and in the receiver.

Produção e caracterização de guias de onda dopados com terras-raras contendo nanopartículas semicondutoras.

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo estudar a produção e caracterização de filmes finos do tipo GeO2-Bi2O3 (BGO) produzidos por sputtering-RF com e sem nanopartículas (NPs) semicondutoras, dopados e codopados com íons de Er3+ ou Er3+/Yb3+ para a produção de amplificadores ópticos. A produção de guias de onda do tipo pedestal baseados nos filmes BGO foi realizada a partir de litografia óptica seguida por processo de corrosão por plasma e deposição física a vapor. A incorporação dos íons de terras-raras (TRs) foi verificada a partir dos espectros de emissão. Análises de espectroscopia e microscopia foram indispensáveis para otimizar os parâmetros dos processos para a construção dos guias de onda. Foi observado aumento significativo da luminescência do Er3+ (região do visível e do infravermelho), em filmes finos codopados com Er3+/Yb3+ na presença de nanopartículas de Si. As perdas por propagação mínimas observadas foram de ~1,75 dB/cm para os guias pedestal em 1068 nm. Para os guias dopados com Er3+ foi observado aumento significativo do ganho na presença de NPs de silício (1,8 dB/cm). O ganho óptico nos guias de onda amplificadores codopados com Er3+/Yb3+ e dopados com Er3+ com e sem NPs de silício também foi medido. Ganho de ~8dB/cm em 1542 nm, sob excitação em 980 nm, foi observado para os guias pedestal codopados com Er3+/Yb3+ (Er = 4,64.1019 átomos/cm3, Yb = 3,60.1020 átomos/cm3) com largura de 80 µm; para os guias codopados com concentração superior de Er3+/Yb3+ (Er = 1,34.1021 átomos/cm3, Yb = 3,90.1021 átomos/cm3) e com NPs de Si, foi observado aumento do ganho óptico de 50% para guia com largura de 100 µm. Os resultados apresentados demonstram que guias de onda baseados em germanatos, com ou sem NPs semicondutoras, são promissores para aplicações em dispositivos fotônicos.

Optical networks to span the globe

The world's communications infrastructure is poised to undergo a revolution. Networks that send light pulses through optical fibres and optical amplifiers will change the way in which we communicate across the planet.

Simultaneous clock recovery and data regeneration using a nonlinear optical loop mirror as an all-optical mixer

High-speed optical clock recovery, demultiplexing and data regeneration will be integral parts of any future photonic network based on high bit-rate OTDM. Much research has been conducted on devices that perform these functions, however to date each process has been demonstrated independently. A very promising method of all-optical switching is that of a semiconductor optical amplifier-based nonlinear optical loop mirror (SOA-NOLM). This has various advantages compared with the standard fiber NOLM, most notably low switching power, compact size and stability. We use the SOA-NOLM as an all-optical mixer in a classical phase-locked loop arrangement to achieve optical clock recovery, while at the same time achieving data regeneration in a single compact device

Picosecond soliton transmission using concatenated nonlinear optical loop mirror intensity filters

We investigate the use of nonlinear optical loop mirrors as saturable absorbers in picosecond soliton transmission systems. It is found that they allow short (1–5-ps) pulses to be propagated through chains of optical amplifiers spaced at intervals of typically 10 km. The loop mirror removes dispersive waves and stabilizes the peak amplitude of the soliton. An additional advantage is that the self-frequency shift of the soliton may be suppressed by bandwidth filtering without causing growth of dispersive waves at the center of the passband. The timing jitter and soliton interactions present in the scheme are also described.

Ultra-long haul optical fibre transmission systems

This thesis examines experimentally options for optical fibre transmission over oceanic distances. Its format follows the chronological evolution of ultra-long haul optical systems, commencing with opto-electronic regenerators as repeaters, progressing to optically amplified NRZ systems and finally solitonic propagation. In each case recirculating loop techniques are deployed to simplify the transmission experiments. Advances in high speed electronics have allowed regenerators operating at 10 Gbit/s to become a practical reality. By augmenting such devices with optical amplifiers it is possible to greatly enhance the repeater spacing. Work detailed in this thesis has culminated in the propagation of 10 Gbit/s data over 400,000 km with a repeater spacing of 160 km. System reliability and robustness are enhanced by the use of a directly modulated DFB laser transmitter and total insensitivity of the system to the signal state of polarisation. Optically amplified ultra-long haul NRZ systems have taken on particular importance with the impending deployment of TAT 12/13 and TPC 5. The performance of these systems is demonstrated to be primarily limited by analogue impairments such as the accumulation of amplifier noise, polarisation effects and optical non-linearities. These degradations may be reduced by the use of appropriate dispersion maps and by scrambling the transmitted state of signal polarisation. A novel high speed optically passive polarisation scrambler is detailed for the first time. At bit rates in excess of 10 Gbit/s it is shown that these systems are severely limited and do not offer the advantages that might be expected over regenerated links. Propagation using solitons as the data bits appears particularly attractive since the dispersive and non-linear effects of the fibre allow distortion free transmission. However, the generation of pure solitons is difficult but must be achieved if the uncontrolled transmission distance is to be maximised. This thesis presents a new technique for the stabilisation of an erbium fibre ring laser that has aUowed propagation of 2.5 Gbit/s solitons to the theoretical limit of ~ 18,000 km. At higher bit rates temporal jitter becomes a significant impairment and to aUow an increase in the aggregate line rate multiplexing in both time and polarisation domains has been proposed. These techniques are shown to be of only limited benefit in practical systems and ultimately some form of soliton transmission control is required. The thesis demonstrates synchronous retiming by amplitude modulation that has allowed 20 Gbit/s data to propagate 125,000 km error free with an amplifier spacing approaching the soliton period. Ultimately the speed of operation of such systems is limited by the electronics used and, thus, a new form of soliton control is demonstrated using all optical techniques to achieve synchronous phase modulation.

Investigation of different techniques to upgrade legacy WDM communication systems

This thesis presents experimental investigation of different effects/techniques that can be used to upgrade legacy WDM communication systems. The main issue in upgrading legacy systems is that the fundamental setup, including components settings such as EDFA gains, does not need to be altered thus the improvement must be carried out at the network terminal. A general introduction to optical fibre communications is given at the beginning, including optical communication components and system impairments. Experimental techniques for performing laboratory optical transmission experiments are presented before the experimental work of this thesis. These techniques include optical transmitter and receiver designs as well as the design and operation of the recirculating loop. The main experimental work includes three different studies. The first study involves a development of line monitoring equipment that can be reliably used to monitor the performance of optically amplified long-haul undersea systems. This equipment can provide instant finding of the fault locations along the legacy communication link which in tum enables rapid repair execution to be performed hence upgrading the legacy system. The second study investigates the effect of changing the number of transmitted 1s and Os on the performance of WDM system. This effect can, in reality, be seen in some coding systems, e.g. forward-error correction (FEC) technique, where the proportion of the 1s and Os are changed at the transmitter by adding extra bits to the original bit sequence. The final study presents transmission results after all-optical format conversion from NRZ to CSRZ and from RZ to CSRZ using semiconductor optical amplifier in nonlinear optical loop mirror (SOA-NOLM). This study is mainly based on the fact that the use of all-optical processing, including format conversion, has become attractive for the future data networks that are proposed to be all-optical. The feasibility of the SOA-NOLM device for converting single and WDM signals is described. The optical conversion bandwidth and its limitations for WDM conversion are also investigated. All studies of this thesis employ 10Gbit/s single or WDM signals being transmitted over dispersion managed fibre span in the recirculating loop. The fibre span is composed of single-mode fibres (SMF) whose losses and dispersion are compensated using erbium-doped fibre amplifiers (EDFAs) and dispersion compensating fibres (DCFs), respectively. Different configurations of the fibre span are presented in different parts.

OTDM network processing using all-optical and electro-optical devices

The current optical communications network consists of point-to-point optical transmission paths interconnected with relatively low-speed electronic switching and routing devices. As the demand for capacity increases, then higher speed electronic devices will become necessary. It is however hard to realise electronic chip-sets above 10 Gbit/s, and therefore to increase the achievable performance of the network, electro-optic and all-optic switching and routing architectures are being investigated. This thesis aims to provide a detailed experimental analysis of high-speed optical processing within an optical time division multiplexed (OTDM) network node. This includes the functions of demultiplexing, 'drop and insert' multiplexing, data regeneration, and clock recovery. It examines the possibilities of combining these tasks using a single device. Two optical switching technologies are explored. The first is an all-optical device known as 'semiconductor optical amplifier-based nonlinear optical loop mirror' (SOA-NOLM). Switching is achieved by using an intense 'control' pulse to induce a phase shift in a low-intensity signal propagating through an interferometer. Simultaneous demultiplexing, data regeneration and clock recovery are demonstrated for the first time using a single SOA-NOLM. The second device is an electroabsorption (EA) modulator, which until this thesis had been used in a uni-directional configuration to achieve picosecond pulse generation, data encoding, demultiplexing, and 'drop and insert' multiplexing. This thesis presents results on the use of an EA modulator in a novel bi-directional configuration. Two independent channels are demultiplexed from a high-speed OTDM data stream using a single device. Simultaneous demultiplexing with stable, ultra-low jitter clock recovery is demonstrated, and then used in a self-contained 40 Gbit/s 'drop and insert' node. Finally, a 10 GHz source is analysed that exploits the EA modulator bi-directionality to increase the pulse extinction ratio to a level where it could be used in an 80 Gbit/s OTDM network.

Improved design of all-optical processor for modular arithmetic

A new improved design of an all-optical processor that performs modular arithmetic is presented. The modulo-processor is based on all-optical circuit of interconnected semiconductor optical amplifier logic gates. The design allows processing times of less than 1 µs for 16-bit operation at 10 Gb/s and up to 32-bit operation at 100 Gb/s.

Demonstration and characterisation of a non-inverting all-optical read/write regenerative memory

An all-optical regenerative memory device using a single loop mirror and a semiconductor optical amplifier is experimentally demonstrated. This configuration has potential for a low power all-optical stable memory device with non-inverting characteristics where packets are stored by continuously injecting the regenerated data back into the loop.