Author:
Egan A.,Rees P.,O'Gorman J.,Hegarty J.,Farrell G.,Phelan P.
Abstract
Higher speed requirements in communication systems have led to demands
for fast optical sub-systems. Important aspects of such sub-systems
will be the synchronization of self-pulsating laser diode (SP LD)
emission to electrical or optical signals and timing extraction,
aspects which have already been demonstrated experimentally.
Consequently, these devices may play important roles as functional
elements in transparent transmission systems. Effective implementation
of these functions in communications systems using these devices
depends on a more complete understanding of synchronization of SP LDs
than exists at present. In this paper we address a number of important
timing issues relating to electro-optical synchronization. We have
experimentally observed for the first time that a phase difference
exists between the input electrical signal and the output optical
signal of a synchronized SP LD and we have experimentally and
theoretically investigated the nature and behaviour of this phase
difference. We have also numerically investigated the impact of
synchronization of SP LDs on timing jitter in the emitted optical
pulses.