Theoretical investigations of quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifier enabled intensity modulation of adaptively modulated optical OFDM signals in IMDD PON systems.

Extensive explorations are undertaken, for the first time, of the feasibility of utilizing quantum-dot semiconductor optical amplifier intensity modulators (QD-SOA-IMs) in cost-sensitive intensity-modulation and direct-detection (IMDD) passive optical network (PON) systems based on adaptively modulated optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (AMOOFDM). A theoretical QD-SOA-IM model is developed, based on which optimum QD-SOA-IM operating conditions are identified together with major physical mechanism considerably affecting the system performance. It is shown that, in comparison with previously reported SOA-IMs in similar transmission systems, QD-SOA-IMs cannot only considerably improve the AMOOFDM transmission performance but also broaden the dynamic range of optimum operating conditions. In particular, for achieving signal bit rates of >30Gb/s over >60km single mode fiber (SMF), QD-SOA-IMs offer a 10dB reduction in CW optical input powers injected into the modulators. In addition, QD-SOA-IMs can also be employed to compensate the chromatic dispersion effect. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America