Noise suppression of incoherent light using a gain-saturated SOA: implications for spectrum-sliced WDM systems

• Published in: Journal of lightwave technology Vol. 23; no. 8; pp. 2399 - 2409
• Main Authors: McCoy, A.D., Horak, P., Thomsen, B.C., Ibsen, M., Richardson, D.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01-08-2005; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Circuit properties; Design engineering; Detection, estimation, filtering, equalization, prediction; Deterioration; Distortion; Electric, optical and optoelectronic circuits; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Filtering; Information, signal and communications theory; Integrated optics. Optical fibers and wave guides; Multiplexing; Noise; Optical and optoelectronic circuits; Optical crosstalk; Optical distortion; Optical fiber communications; Optical filters; Optical losses; Optical noise; Optical telecommunications; Semiconductor device noise; semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA); Semiconductor optical amplifiers; Signal and communications theory; Signal quality; Signal, noise; Spectra; spectrum slicing; Stimulated emission; Telecommunications; Telecommunications and information theory; Wavelength division multiplexing; wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM); High density; Noise reduction; semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA); Crosstalk; Wavelength division multiplexing; Output signal; Optimal design; spectrum slicing; Semiconductor optical amplifiers; Degradation; wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM); Optical filter; Signal spectrum; Optical fiber communication; Optical noise; Spectral density; Incoherent light; Gain; Damaging
• ISSN: 0733-8724; 1558-2213
• DOI: 10.1109/JLT.2005.852023

In this paper, we present an experimental and numerical study of semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)-based noise suppression and its relevance to high-channel-density spectrum-sliced wavelength-division-multiplexed systems. We show that the improvement in signal quality is accompanied by spectral distortion, which renders it susceptible to deterioration in the presence of subsequent optical filtering. This phenomenon originates from the loss of intensity correlation between spectral components of the SOA output when the signal spectrum is altered. As a consequence, a design tradeoff is introduced between intensity noise and crosstalk in high-channel-density systems. These adverse effects can be overcome by optimized SOA design, resulting in a significant improvement in signal quality.