Extensive explorations are undertaken, for the first time, of the feasibility of utilizing quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifier intensity modulators (QD-SOA-IMs) in cost-sensitive intensity-modulation and direct-detection (IMDD) passive optical network (PON) systems based on adaptively modulated optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (AMOOFDM). A theoretical QD-SOA-IM model is developed, based on which optimum QD-SOA-IM operating conditions are identified together with major physical mechanism considerably affecting the system performance. It is shown that, in comparison with previously reported SOA-IMs in similar transmission systems, QD-SOA-IMs cannot only considerably improve the AMOOFDM transmission performance but also broaden the dynamic range of optimum operating conditions. In particular, for achieving signal bit rates of >30Gb/s over >60km single mode fiber (SMF), QD-SOA-IMs offer a 10dB reduction in CW optical input powers injected into the modulators. In addition, QD-SOA-IMs can also be employed to compensate the chromatic dispersion effect.

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In this paper, we are going to exhibit the system performance using the single, double and three-electrode quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifier as an intensity modulator (3E-QD-SOA-IM) of the adaptively modulated optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (AMOOFDM) signals in the intensity-modulation direct-detection passive optical network (IMDD-PON) systems. Moreover, to compare the bit-rate versus transmission distance of the proposed fiber link model when using both configurations multi-electrode semiconductor optical amplifier intensity-modulator (ME-SOA-IM) and multi-electrode quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifier intensity-modulator (ME-QD-SOA-IM), to study the improvement of the transmission capacity, distance reach and power efficiency when applying the proposed configurations for optical access networks for distances ranging from 20 km up to 120 km. The three-electrode configuration solved the nonlinearity of the two-electrode configuration and offered a considerably wider range of optimum operating conditions to achieve up to 35 Gbps. Furthermore, the 3E-QD-SOA-IM showed a better performance over the 3E-SOA-IM over all the 120 km, and a 5 Gbps enhancement in the bitrate with a 20 dB less optical input power at 20 km.