Experimental investigation of the impact of optical injection on vital parameters of a gain-switched pulse source

Abstract: An analysis of optical injection on a gain-switched distributed feedback (DFB) laser and its impact on pulse parameters that influence the performance of the pulse source in high-speed optical communication systems is presented in this paper. A range of 10GHz in detuning and 5dB in injected power has been experimentally identified to attain pulses, from an optically injected gain-switched DFB laser, with durations below 10ps and pedestal suppression higher than 35dB. These pulse features are associated with a side mode suppression ratio of about 30dB and a timing jitter of less than 1ps. This demonstrates the feasibility of using optical injection in conjunction with appropriate pulse compression schemes for developing an optimized and cost-efficient pulse source, based on a gain-switched DFB laser, for high-speed photonic systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]