Chirp Management in Communication Systems with Picosecond Data Carriers Using a Single SOA

Abstract

To preserve the integrity of fiber transmission in incoherent systems using picosecond carriers the chromatic dispersion must be controlled with the high accuracy. This can be very challenging task especially in a multiwavelength environment under varying conditions. Under these circumstances the tunability of the control mechanism is desired. In this respect we have investigated the use of a Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (SOA) for tunable dispersion control in the multiwavelength environment via chirp modification of data carriers. The successful demonstration of this technique was conducted in a 16 km long outdoor fiber optic testbed.