Noise and Non-Linearities of Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers

• Research unit: COST
• Project number: C99.0077

Key words (English)

Photonic devices; noise; non-linearity; optical communications

Research programs (English)

COST-Action 270 - Reliability of Optical Components and Devices in Communication Systems and Networks

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

A, B, CY, DK, F, D, I, LV, NL, PL, E, S, CH, GB

Abstract (English)

This project started originally in 2000 in the frame of COST 267. The project has continued as part of the Action COST 270 because the devices investigated here are of interest for this Action. In addition, the results were regularly presented in Action 288 because the said Action also covers in part the field of research. The main scientific focus for 2004 was a 40-GHz mode-locked fiber-ring laser based on an optically controlled modulator. The modulator is a monolithic InGaAsP-InP Mach-Zehnder interferometer with integrated semiconductor optical amplifiers. Our participation in COST was very beneficial to our work because we had the opportunity to compare and discuss our results with those of other colleagues. The laser developed at the ETH generates nearly transform-limited Gaussian pulses of 2.5 ps width and up to 9 mW mean output power with less than 130 fs of timing jitter, and it is wavelength tunable over more than 30 nm. The relationship between key laser parameters and the output pulse characteristics is analyzed experimentally and numerically. An improved cavity design permits the generation of shorter pulses of 1.0-ps width. The results of the ETH work were disseminated in refereed publications, international conferences, and in workshops with reference to COST.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: COST-DB of the State Secretariat for Education and Research Hallwylstrasse 4 CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. [phone] Swiss Project-Number: C99.0077