Integrated 16-ps pulse generator based on a reflective SOA-EAM for UWB schemes

peer-reviewedA flexible pulse shaping photonic structure that is capable of generating train pulses that hold pulse widths of approximately 16 ps and a Gaussian profile at a repetition rate of 20 GHz is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The key component is a monolithically integrated reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)-electroabsorption modulator device that operates within the 1.55-μm frequency band. The generated pulses have low chirp, which is experimentally measured using a novel linear pulse characterization technique. The pulses have the potential to be used as seed pulses for optical ultra-wide band photonic communications systems.ACCEPTEDpeer-reviewe