40-gb/s EA modulators with wide temperature operation and negative chirp

Abstract

Broad bandwidth external modulators are widely used in optical fiber networks to avoid the chirp associated with the direct modulation of laser diode sources. For transmission application beyond 10 Gb/s, electroabsorption modulators (EAMs) offer many advantages such as low drive voltage, low chirp characteristics, small size, and added functionality through integration with a distributed feedback laser. In this letter, we present static and dynamic characterization of an EAM demonstrating the possibility to have with the same device uncooled operation at 40 Gb/s and negative chirp at low negative bias. These features are attractive for cost reduction in short link applications and for long-haul transmission. All the measurements are performed at 40 Gb/s from room temperature up to 60/spl deg/C demonstrating a negative chirp behavior for the stand-alone modulator over the entire temperature range.