Optical frequency comb generation using dual-mode injection-locking of quantum-dash mode-locked lasers: Properties and applications

  • Ehsan Sooudi
  • , Stylianos Sygletos
  • , Andrew D. Ellis
  • , Guillaume Huyet
  • , John G. McInerney
  • , François Lelarge
  • , Kamel Merghem
  • , Ricardo Rosales
  • , Anthony Martinez
  • , Abderrahim Ramdane
  • , Stephen P. Hegarty

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In this paper, we describe generation and application of wide narrow linewidth optical frequency combs using dual-mode injection-locking of InP quantum-dash mode-locked lasers. First, the dependence of the RF locking-range on the device's absorber voltage is experimentally investigated. Under optimized absorber voltage, a continuous wide RF locking-range of ≈400 MHz is achievable for lasers with 21 GHz repetition rate. The total RF locking-range of ≈440 MHz is possible considering locking-range for positive and negative absorber voltages. This wide tuning > 2% of the repetition rate, a record for a monolithic mode-locked laser, is reported from a two-section device without any additional passive section or extended-cavity for repetition rate tuning. It is shown that the effective RF locking-range in dual-mode injection corresponds to the optical locking-range and repetition rate tuning under CW injection, which is wider when the free-running mode-locking operation is "less stable." The widest comb consists of 35 narrow lines within 10 dB of the peak, spanning ≈ 0.7 THz and generating 3.7 ps pulses. Second, we show the first demonstration of multi pump phase-synchronization of two 10 Gb/s DPSK channels in a phase-sensitive amplifier using dual-mode injection-locking technique. The phase-sensitive amplifier based on the "black box" scheme shows more than 7 dB phase-sensitive gain and error free performance for both input channels with 1 dB penalty.

Original languageEnglish
Article number6249718
Pages (from-to)1327-1338
Number of pages12
JournalIEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics
Volume48
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 Aug 2012

Keywords

  • Mode-locked lasers
  • optical frequency combs
  • optical-injection-locking
  • phase-sensitive amplifiers
  • quantum-dash lasers

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