Performance optimization of optically preamplified receivers for return-to-zero and non return-to-zero coding

We determine optimum bandwidths for optical and electrical filters in optically preamplified receivers, both for NRZ coding and RZ coding. Our simulations clearly reveal the trade-offs to be made when optimizing bandwidths: NRZ is typically limited by intersymbol interference, while RZ is limited by energy truncation. Thus, RZ allows for tighter filtering, leading to near quantum limited performance. Further, RZ systems are less susceptible to suboptimum filtering. We also show that the use of RZ with duty cycles below 33% only leads to minor additional receiver sensitivity improvements at the expense of impractically higher receiver bandwidths. Employing an RZ duty cycle of 33%, we achieved a receiver sensitivity of 52 ppb at a data rate of 10Gbit/s, which is only 1.4 dB off the quantum limit.