Data Transfer From RZ-OOK to RZ-BPSK by Polarization-Insensitive XPM in a Passive Birefringent Nonlinear AlGaAs Waveguide

Abstract

The polarization-insensitive data transfer of 10-Gb/s return-to-zero ON-OFF keying (RZ-OOK) to RZ-binary phase-shift keying (RZ-BPSK) has been successfully carried out for the first time, in a passive birefringent nonlinear Al0.18Ga0.82As waveguide, utilizing polarization-insensitive cross-phase-modulation (PI-XPM). A 10-9 bit-error-rate (BER) pre-amplified receiver sensitivity penalty of ≈2.2 dB relative to baseline RZ-BPSK was measured for PI-XPM, when the RZ-OOK pump was polarization-scrambled and the RZ-probe was launched at 40°. The probe's optimal launch angle for PI-XPM was significantly influenced by the anisotropy of the Al0.18Ga0.82As waveguide.