The fabrication and basic characteristics of a InGaAs/InGaAsP multi-quantum-well (MQW) electroabsorption modulator with a novel structure integrated with a distributed-feedback (DFB) laser are presented. A fundamental study was performed on the applicability of the InGaAs/InGaAsP MQW structure to an electroabsorption-type modulator. Efficient attenuation small hole pileup and small chirp characteristics of a discrete modulator based on this MQW structure were demonstrated experimentally. A study of the controllability of in-plane band-gap energy by the use of selective-area metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) was also demonstrated. The modulator was monolithically integrated with a MQW DFB laser of the same material. Using a low-capacitance semi-insulating buried heterostructure, over 14 GHz modulation under high-light-output operations up to +10 dBm was achieved. Modulation at 10 Gb/s with a modulation voltage swing of only 1 V/sub pp/ demonstrates the potential value of this system for 1.55- mu m lightwave communications. >

InGaAs/InGaAsP MQW electroabsorption modulator integrated with a DFB laser fabricated by band-gap energy control selective area MOCVD

The practical implementation of erbium-doped fiber amplifiers with gain at 1.55 /spl mu/m allows long unrepeatered transmission distances. However, in order to realize high data rates over these distances with already installed standard single mode fiber, techniques must be found to overcome the pulse spreading due to the positive chromatic dispersion of the transmission fiber in this window, we review a compensation technique based on propagating the signals through a specially designed fiber with large negative dispersion for the LP/sub 01/ mode, thereby ending up with zero net pulse spreading. The basis of the concept are discussed and a key figure of merit for dispersion compensating devices is defined. The design and optimization of dispersion compensating (DC) fiber is described with special attention to practical concerns including packaging and manufacturability. We describe experimental fabrication results of DC fiber, results of using the fiber to make compact dispersion compensating modules, and the outcome of recent systems experiments incorporating the fiber. >

Design and characterization of dispersion compensating fiber based on the LP/sub 01/ mode

The authors propose and demonstrate a simple technique for generating a transform-limited optical short pulse with variable repetition rates by using a sinusoidally driven InGaAsP electroabsorption modulator without any optical resonators. Using the pulse compression effect due to nonlinear attenuation characteristics of the modulator, a transform-limited optical pulse can be generated just with sinusoidal modulation. Theoretical calculations and experimental results show that the pulse shape is very close to the sech/sup 2/ shape, and the pulse width can be easily varied by varying the bias and modulation voltages. Transform-limited optical pulse generation with a minimum pulse width of 11 ps was achieved up to 20-GHz repetition rate. The time-bandwidth product was as small as 0.32. >

Transform-limited optical pulse generation up to 20-GHz repetition rate by a sinusoidally driven InGaAsP electroabsorption modulator

The chirp parameter of a multiple-quantum-well (MQW) electroabsorption modulator was measured with accuracy for several operating wavelengths in the 1.5 /spl mu/m window. It varied strongly with applied bias. Effective chirp parameter, defined as the ratio of phase change to transmission change between modulator on and off states, is about zero, or even negative. However, experimental transmission length on standard fiber at 10 Gb/s NRZ is much smaller than what is expected for such a low chirp parameter. It is demonstrated that the effective chirp parameter should not be computed from changes between on and off states, but from the average of the chirp parameter values in a 3 dB region of the most transparent states of the modulator. This simple rule allows us to predict transmission performances based on measurements of the chirp parameter, and can be used to optimize optical components without actually experimenting on a transmission system. The effective chirp parameter of the MQW electroabsorption modulator is found positive. This should be intrinsic to red-shift electroabsorption effects, such as the quantum confined Stark effect. >

On the transmission performances and the chirp parameter of a multiple-quantum-well electroabsorption modulator

A method for incorporating distributed feedback in a ridge waveguide laser by means of lateral gratings and a single growth step is discussed. The necessary Bragg condition for distributed feedback is satisfied by etching gratings along the ridge in the top confining layer of the laser on either side of the contact stripe. Both Fabry-Periot modes and a single emission peak away from the peak of the gain profile are observed in lasers with cleaved facets. The Bragg reflection emission peak does not shift with increasing drive current, which is characteristic of a distributed-feedback (DFB) laser. >

A distributed feedback ridge waveguide quantum well heterostructure laser

High-speed, low-chirp, and low voltage driving characteristics of 1.55- mu m lambda /4-shifted distributed-feedback (DFB) laser/InGaAsP electroabsorption modulator integrated light sources are reported. By optimization of the composition and thickness of the modulator waveguide, the driving voltage for a 10-dB extinction ratio was reduced to 1.4-3 V, depending on the modulator length in the range of 240-125 mu m. High-speed modulation up to 10-Gb/s NRZ modulation was achieved by the integrated device with a 125- mu m modulator length. The linewidth enhancement factor of the integrated modulator was estimated to be 0.15-0.48. >

lambda /4-shifted DFB laser/electroabsorption modulator integrated light source for multigigabit transmission

The fabrication process and characteristics, including 5-Gb/s transmission, of an integrated light source consisting of a lambda /4-shifted distributed feedback laser and an electroabsorption (EA) modulator are discussed. By introducing a semi-insulating (SI) InP on the butt-joint region, both the large electrical isolation resistance (>10 M Omega ) between the laser and the modulator and a high optical coupling efficiency (>80%) between them are achieved. A typical threshold current was 50-70 mA, and single-mode operation at 1.576 mu m was maintained up to 5.5-mW output power. The modulation voltage to swing between 90% transmission and 10% transmission was 6.2-12 V, depending on the modulator length in the range 1000-400 mu m. The 3-dB bandwidth is 7.7 GHz and a linewidth enhancement factor ( alpha ) of 0.9 is estimated from the sideband-to-carrier ratio of the spectra. >

S. Yamamoto

Papers

lambda /4-shifted DFB laser/electroabsorption modulator integrated light source for multigigabit transmission

5-Gb/s performance of integrated light source consisting of lambda /4-shifted DFB laser and EA modulator with SI InP BH structure