Frequency noise reduction performance of a feed-forward heterodyne technique: application to an actively mode-locked laser diode.

We report on the frequency noise reduction performance of a feed-forward technique. The Letter is based on frequency noise measurements that allow the spectral response of the feed-forward phase noise correction to be determined. The main limitation to the noise compensation is attributed to the local oscillator flicker noise and the noise added by the optoelectronic loop elements. The technique is applied to an actively mode-locked laser diode demonstrating, at the output of the system, an optical frequency comb source with 14 comb lines reduced to sub-kilohertz intrinsic linewidth.

Self-phase-modulation-based 2R regenerator including pulse compression and offset filtering for 42.6 Gbit/s RZ-33% transmission systems.

We report on the experimental and theoretical study of a self-phase-modulation-based regenerator at 42.6 Gbit/s with a return-to-zero 33% format. We point out some detrimental effects such as intrachannel interactions and Brillouin scattering. An efficient solution, relying on a self-phase-modulation-based pulse compressor in combination with the regenerator, is proposed to overcome these detrimental phenomena. The experimental demonstration shows the effectiveness of a wavelength-transparent regenerator at 42.6 Gbit/s with a sensitivity-improvement of more than 5 dB and an eye-opening improvement of 2.3 dB in a back-to-back configuration, as well as a 10 times maximum transmission distance improvement for a BER of 10(-4).

Noise reduction in 2R-regeneration technique utilizing self-phase modulation and filtering.

We numerically investigate the 2R-regeneration technique utilizing self-phase modulation and off-center filtering. Our numerical simulations take into account the incoherent nature of noise through its spectral representation. This approach allows to evaluate a Q-factor improvement of 2 dB for this regenerator. Furthermore, our study points out the role of both the input and the output filter of this regenerator. We show that the input filter must be suitably chosen in order to obtain the best Q-factor improvement. The output filter must also be suitably chosen in order to preserve the modulation format.