Theoretical Analysis of Directly Modulated Reflective Semiconductor Optical Amplifier Performance Enhancement by Microring Resonator-Based Notch Filtering

Abstract

Abstract:We demonstrate the feasibility of using a single microring resonator (MRR) as optical notch filter for enabling the direct modulation of a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA) at more than tripled data rate than possible with the RSOA alone. We conduct a thorough simulation analysis to investigate and assess the impact of critical operating parameters on defined performance metrics, and we specify how the former must be selected so that the latter can become acceptable. By using an MRR of appropriate radius and detuning, the RSOA modulation bandwidth, which we explicitly quantify, can be extended to overcome the RSOA pattern-dependent performance limitations. Thus, the MRR makes the RSOA-encoded signal exhibit improved characteristics that can be exploited in practical RSOA direct modulation applications.

On Directly Modulated Reflective Semiconductor Optical Amplifier with Assistance of Birefringent Fiber Loop

“…Second, we considered the theoretical RSOA E/O response for benchmarking against the experiment. In [17], we concisely derived this response using and combing material from the relevant references cited therein that have suitably applied small-signal analysis. For the sinusoidal modulation current used when this response was measured experimentally [21], the RSOA E/O transfer function is reduced to T RSOA (ω) = D(0)/2D(ω), where D(ω) = 3.…”

“…where W[.] is Lambert's function available in Matlab [17,29] and g 0 = ΓaN 0 {[(I dc − I m )/I 0 ] − 1} is the RSOA steady-state gain coefficient, equal to the measured one, 0.89 GHz, then solving for T car .…”

“…Thus, through the proper discrimination of the frequency components generated by this nonlinear effect, the impairments associated with them can be suppressed and the RSOA low modulation bandwidth can be compensated for. This approach is simple in concept, all-optical in nature, straightforward to apply, efficient in use and amenable to implementation by employing different technologies [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. In this context, we have proposed applying the specific technique by means of a Birefringent Fiber Loop (BFL), which is characterized by the ease of construction from off-the-shelf fiber components, a potentially stable operation, and flexibly tunable characteristics, first to conventional SOAs [18][19][20] and more recently to RSOAs as well [21].…”

Special Issue on Applications of Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers

“…Zoiros in Ref. [24] demonstrate the feasibility of using a single microring resonator (MRR) as optical notch filter for enabling RSOA direct modulation at extended data rate than is possible with the RSOA alone. To this aim, it has been investigated and specified how the MRR should be designed to improve the encoded signal characteristics for RSOA direct modulation applications.…”

Enhanced Sensitivity of Microring Resonator-Based Sensors Using the Finite Difference Time Domain Method to Detect Glucose Levels for Diabetes Monitoring

“…Microring resonators (MRRs) are vital photonic components in the development of high-index silicon photonic platforms. It produces optical resonance by utilizing the constructive interference phenomenon from the interaction between propagated light in its waveguides [1][2][3]. The MRR waveguide consists of a ring and a straight waveguide that interact in the presence of light propagation, provided that the distance or gap between them is small, usually in micro or nanometer sizes [4,5].…”