Effects of phase-to-intensity noise conversion by multiple reflections on gigabit-per-second DFB laser transmission systems

• Published in: Journal of lightwave technology Vol. 7; no. 6; pp. 888 - 895
• Main Authors: Gimlett, J.L., Cheung, N.K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.06.1989; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Subjects: Acoustic reflection; Applied sciences; Connectors; Distributed feedback devices; Exact sciences and technology; Laser feedback; Laser noise; Laser theory; Optical reflection; Phase noise; Power lasers; System performance; Systems, networks and services of telecommunications; Telecommunications; Telecommunications and information theory; Transmission and modulation (techniques and equipments)
• ISSN: 0733-8724; 1558-2213
• DOI: 10.1109/50.32354

Large power penalties and bit-error-rate floors have been observed in some Gb/s systems using distributed feedback (DFB) lasers, which could be attributed to interferometric conversion of laser phase noise to intensity noise by multiple reflections at connectors and splices. The authors calculated the power spectral density of the interferometric noise and its impact on system performance as a function of both the magnitude and number of reflections, and they compare the theoretical predictions with experimental results. Their studies indicate that connectors and splices with return losses of more than about 25 dB are required for the reliable operation of Gb/s fiber transmission systems, even if optical isolators are used.< >