Coherent time- and wavelength-division multiplexed point-to-multipoint optical access network using low-cost DFB lasers enabled by a frequency comb

Abstract

Coherent reception, along with time- and wavelength-division multiplexing (TWDM), is a promising concept to simultaneously support multiple services in future high-speed point-to-multipoint passive optical networks (PONs). The next-generation PON 2 (NG-PON2) standard describes a TWDM-PON based on IM/DD intensity modulation and direct detection (IM/DD) which employs tunable-lasers and optical filters such as tunable optical filters or cyclic arrayed-waveguide gratings. Here, we investigate what we believe to be a novel coherent TWDM-PON architecture based on a frequency comb source in the optical line terminal (OLT), and thermally-tuned distributed-feedback (DFB) lasers in the optical network units (ONUs). For downstream operation, we broadcast multiple copies of two 25 GBd dual-polarization quadrature phase shift keying (DP-QPSK) signals, resulting in a total PON downstream capacity of 200 Gbit/s. The copies of the downstream signals are spanning ±2 nm (±250 GHz). In the ONUs, we align the wavelengths of the DFB lasers, which act as local oscillators (LOs), to one of the downstream signals by a thermal heater or by changing the direct current. In upstream, the already aligned DFB lasers act as transmit lasers and the frequency comb as LO. We demonstrate TWDM upstream by emulating two ONUs with 25 GBd DP-QPSK, resulting in a total PON upstream capacity of 200 Gbit/s.