Principles of 2R and 3R optical regeneration for long haul transmission systems are presented, and recirculation loop assessment experiments of this technique are reviewed and discussed.

We report, for the first time, a transmission experiment over standard fiber at 1.55 m using an electroabsorption modulated laser (EML) integrated with a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). We show clearly that negative pre-chirped signals can be obtained by adjusting both modulator and amplifier driving parameters. Negative chirp operation is evaluated through small-signal chirp measurement as well as through time-resolved dynamic chirp measurement. Signal chirp control at emission enhances transmission and increases optical reach. Thanks to the SOA gain and chirp compensation for modulator loss and chirp, dispersion-penalty-free with clear open eye diagrams over 100 km of optical fiber at 10.3 Gb/s is achieved. A transmission up to 125 km is also obtained. This novel fully integrated EML-SOA is very promising as a high-performance, compact and low-cost optical transmitter for the future access-metropolitan network convergence.

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