Single-polarization optical low-noise pre-amplified receiver for heavily coded optical communications links

Jeffrey M. Roth; Amrita Masurkar; Vincent Scalesse; Jeffrey R. Minch; Frederick G. Walther; Shelby J. Savage; Todd G. Ulmer

doi:10.1117/12.2084844

16 March 2015 Single-polarization optical low-noise pre-amplified receiver for heavily coded optical communications links

Jeffrey M. Roth, Amrita Masurkar, Vincent Scalesse, Jeffrey R. Minch, Frederick G. Walther, Shelby J. Savage, Todd G. Ulmer

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9354, Free-Space Laser Communication and Atmospheric Propagation XXVII; 935409 (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2084844
Event: SPIE LASE, 2015, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

We report a single-polarization, optical low-noise pre-amplfier (SP-OLNA) that enhances the receiver sensitivity of heavily-coded 1.55-μm optical communication links. At channel bit-error ratios of approximately 10%, the erbium-doped SP-OLNA provides an approximately 1.0-dB receiver sensitivity enhancement over a conventional two-polarization pre-amplfier.

The SP-OLNA includes three gain stages, each followed by narrow-band athermal fiber Bragg gratings. This cascaded fiter is matched to a return-to-zero, 2.88-Gb/s, variable burst-mode, differential phase shift keying (DPSK) waveform. The SP-OLNA enhancement of approximately 1.0 dB is demonstrated over a range of data rates, from the full 2.88-Gb/s (non-burst) data rate, down to a 1/40th burst rate (72 Mb/s).

The SP-OLNA'sfirst stage of ampli_cation is a single-polarization gain block constructed from polarization-maintaining (PM) fiber components, PM erbium gain fiber, and a PM integrated pump coupler and polarizer. This first stage sets the SP-OLNA's noise figure, measured at 3.4 dB. Two subsequent non-PM gain stages allow the SP-OLNA to provide an overall gain of 78 dB to drive a DPSK demodulator receiver. This receiver is comprised of a delay-line interferometer and balanced photo-receiver. The SP-OLNA is packaged into a compact, 5"x7"x1.6" volume, which includes an electronic digital interface to control and monitor pump lasers, optical switches, and power monitors.

Citation Download Citation

Jeffrey M. Roth, Amrita Masurkar, Vincent Scalesse, Jeffrey R. Minch, Frederick G. Walther, Shelby J. Savage, and Todd G. Ulmer "Single-polarization optical low-noise pre-amplified receiver for heavily coded optical communications links", Proc. SPIE 9354, Free-Space Laser Communication and Atmospheric Propagation XXVII, 935409 (16 March 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2084844

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