World's First Semiconductor Optical Amplifier with Signal Waveform Re-shaping Function at 40Gbps

Fujitsu uses quantum dots to eliminate waveform degradation and significantly reduce noise

Fujitsu Limited and Fujitsu Laboratories Limited today announced the development of the world's first semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)(1) enabling waveform re-shaping of high-speed optical signals at 40Gbps by using quantum dots(2). Optical technology capable of restoring degradation of optical signals to their original quality without converting them into electronic signals is known as all-optical 3R regeneration(3), consisting of re-amplification, re-shaping, and re-timing. The new SOA accomplishes both re-amplification and re-shaping of optical signals through a single semiconductor device, thereby enabling optical regenerators to become further compact and facilitating higher functionality of future optical networks.

Figure: Quantum dot SOA and input/output signal waveforms

New technology developed for this SOA will be the foundation for the realization of future ultra high-speed photonic networks. Research for this technology was partially conducted as part of the project "R&D of High Performance Network Subsystems Using Nano Technology", commissioned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) of Japan.

Details of this development will be presented at the Optical Fiber Communication Conference (OFC) 2005, which starts March 6 in Anaheim, U.S.

Background

For future photonic networks that require high-speed optical signals to be transmitted at high qualities over long distances and flexible interconnect of optical network nodes, all-optical 3R regeneration is extremely effective. Optical 3R regeneration technology consists of three key processes: re-shaping, re-timing, and re-amplification. Re-shaping refers to the suppression of noise and fluctuation of optical signals to re-shape signal waveforms, re-timing reduces timing fluctuations know as timing jitter, and re-amplification amplifies optical signals.

In the past, as optical signals were regenerated by converting them into electronic signals and using electronic circuits for regeneration, optical regeneration required large and complex regenerators. Therefore, various research has been underway to develop all-optical regenerators capable of regenerating optical signals without requiring their conversion into electronic signals.

Technological Challenges

SOAs can suppress noise and fluctuation when optical signals are on (ON-level), by utilizing a characteristic known as gain saturation, in which the optical gain (amplification rate) falls when a signal is too intense. However, conventional SOAs typically had slow gain saturation response speeds requiring several nanoseconds, thereby impacting the subsequent signal and making such SOAs unusable in all-optical regenerators.

Newly Developed Technology

Technology that Fujitsu developed for its new SOA significantly accelerates the response speed of gain saturation. Fujitsu achieved this by observing and focusing on the extremely fast speeds of gain saturation when quantum dots were used. By employing quantum dots, gain saturation response time was accelerated to a few picoseconds, one-thousandth the time that was required with conventional SOAs.

In addition, through improvements in crystal growth technology of quantum dots(4) and by designing a new device structure, Fujitsu realized a quantum dot SOA which easily enables gain saturation while achieving high optical gain and high optical output, at wavelengths of 1550 nanometers (nm) which are used in optical telecommunication

Results

By using its new SOA, Fujitsu achieved the world's first successful waveform re-shaping and suppression of fluctuations of high-speed optical signals at 40Gbps. Unlike conventional SOAs in which waveform degradation occurred due to slow response time, such waveform degradation is not observed with Fujitsu's new SOA that employs quantum dots. By intentionally adding noise to the input signal, Fujitsu also succeeded in significantly suppressing output signal noise. When the input signal was amplified by 30 times (15 decibels), the noise to signal ratio was reduced by 40%.

Future Developments

Fujitsu will further optimize this new SOA and continue with development of a function to suppress fluctuations when signals are off (OFF-level fluctuations), and a re-timing function. Fujitsu targets the realization of an all-optical 3R regenerator using practical technology in the next four or five years. Fujitsu will also hereafter consider employing its new SOA for wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) applications.

Glossary

(1) semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)
A semiconductor device that amplifies an optical signal through the stimulated emission of stored carriers in a semiconductor. The carriers are usually supplied by electrical current.
(2) quantum dots
Nano-scale semiconductors consisting of semiconductor crystals that are several dozen nanometers in size, in which electrons can be stored.
(3) all-optical 3R regeneration
Optical 3R regeneration is technology whereby a degraded signal is restored to its original quality, and consists of Re-amplification, Re-timing, and Re-shaping (3R). When these processes do not involve conversion to electronic signals, they are referred to as all-optical 3R regeneration.
(4) improvements in crystal growth technology of quantum dots
Fujitsu utilized and modified technology based on research results from "InAs Quantum Dot Growth Technology on InP Substrates", which was conducted as part of the Photonic Network Project of the Optoelectric Industry and Technology Development Association (OITDA), commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) of Japan.