Wavelength Agile, Integrated Optical Transmitters for Analog Applications

A summary of current work involving the development of high performance, wavelength-tunable integrated optical transmitters for analog applications is given. The performance of sampled-grating DBR lasers integrated with an SOA and an electroabsorption or Mach-Zehnder modulator is evaluated in terms of E/O conversion efficiency, noise performance and dynamic range. Optimization options to maximize either gain, noise figure or spurious-free dynamic range in analog link applications are discussed. It is shown how the combination of chip-scale integration and the use of bulk waveguide Franz-Keldysh absorption allows coupling of a large optical power level into the electroabsorption modulator, and its effects on the modulation response and analog link performance. Link results on an integrated SGDBR-SOA-EAM device includes a sub-octave SFDR in the 125 to 127 dB/Hz range and a broadband SFDR of 103-107 dB/Hz limited by third order intermodulation products or 95-98 dB/Hz, limited by second order intermodulation products, over a 1528 to 1573 nm wavelength range.