PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF DELAY

INTERFEROMETER-BASED SCHEME FOR

ULTRAFAST RETURN-TO-ZERO DATA
PATTERN EFFECT MITIGATION
IN SEMICONDUCTOR OPTICAL AMPLIFIER

K.E. Zoiros, T. Siarkos, C.S. Koukourlis

Democritus University of Thrace, School of Engineering
Departmemt of Electrical & Computer Engineering
12 Vas. Sofias Str., 67 100, Xanthi, Greece
kzoiros@ee.duth.gr

ABSTRACT
The feasibility of employing a delay interferometer (DI) to compensate for the pattern
effect that manifests in a stand-alone semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) when it is
driven by return-to-zero (RZ) data being faster than its dynamic response is theoretically
investigated and demonstrated. This is achieved by means of a numerical model applied
to simulate and correlate the operation of these two elements in the context of their
cascaded configuration. The outcome of this process allows to analyze and evaluate the
impact of the input signal and SOA characteristics on the amplitude modulation of the
sequence exiting each one of these devices. The obtained results disclose that owing to
the utilization of the DI this quality metric is decreased compared to the case of a single
SOA only while the technical limitations imposed on the involved critical parameters are
significantly relaxed and their useful operational range is extended. These findings
underscore the merit of placing a DI after a SOA for successfully combatting the
undesirable pattern dependence and improving its performance when exploited purely for
direct amplification purposes.

Keywords: semiconductor optical amplifier, pattern effect, delay interferometer.

1 INTRODUCTION purposes in real-life optical communications systems.

The semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) has
become an indispensable element for the
implementation of modern lightwave networks
owing to the attractive properties of multi-functional
capability, low power consumption, small footprint,
broad gain bandwidth and integrability [1]. However,
its use in linear amplification applications [2], such
as power booster, in-line amplifier and receiver
preamplifier, is limited by the slow carrier lifetime,
which is typically of the same order as the launched
data modulation speeds. The negative consequence
of this drawback is that when the SOA is biased to
operate in the deep saturation regime, its dynamical
behavior is dominated by the binary content of the
incoming ultrafast random data stream. This
phenomenon, which is known as “pattern effect” [3],
causes the output of the SOA to depend on the values
of the preceding input data bits instead of solely on
the current input bit. The negative by-product of this
fact is that the amplified output suffers from
amplitude fluctuations, which impede the
deployment of SOAs for direct signal amplification
In order to confront this problem and enable the
unobstructed exploitation of a stand-alone
conventional SOA in its classical role several
methods have been proposed, which include the use
of higher driving current and/or longer active region
length [4], external light injection [5-6],
sophisticated line coding [7], bandpass filtering [8-9],
interferometric arrangements [10-11], cascading
SOAs [12] and new materials [13]. An alternative
promising option is to place after the SOA a delay
interferometer (DI), whose suitability and
competence stems from the attractive features of [14-
15] simplicity, compact size, affordable cost,
stability to environmental perturbations, and the
potential to be integrated and co-packaged with the
SOA in a single module. Although this technique has
been shown in the laboratory to be capable of
mitigating the pattern dependence on 10 Gb/s non
return-to-zero (NRZ) pulses [14], in some practical
applications the return-to-zero (RZ) may be
preferable [16] and is a format for which the research
interest is continuously growing [17-18]. However,
the success of the proposed scheme with the former

Ubiquitous Computing and Communication Journal 1

does not guarantee in advance that this will also
happen with the latter because in each case the
pattern effect manifests differently, namely it causes
a distortion between the leading and trailing edge of
the NRZ pulses [14] whilst it incurs fluctuations
between the peak amplitudes of the RZ pulses, as it
will be later shown. Hence the conclusion that the
employment of a DI after a SOA that amplifies NRZ
pulses is equally efficient for the RZ case is not à Figure 1: Layout of the theoretically investigated
priori assured unless it is reached through a pattern effect suppression scheme
comprehensive theoretical analysis and verified that
it holds for this format as well. Furthermore, in When the SOA is excited by a train of digitally
contrast to NRZ, a RZ pulse occupies by definition coded pulses that arrive at intervals shorter than its
only a fraction of the bit slot duration with inevitable carrier lifetime then the amplified profile is not
consequence that the requirement for the time delay uniform. This happens because the gain of a SOA
is expected to be stringent for the RZ coding. In that is subject to an ultrafast data stream is not
contrast it is more relaxed for the NRZ profile since altered in an ordinary fashion but in direct response
it is allowed to be much higher over the interval to the input binary content, namely it is dropped for a
between successive pulses, as it has been indeed logical‘1’ and partially recovered for a logical ‘0’.
confirmed from the corresponding experimental Moreover, continuous ‘0’s help the gain to rise
demonstration [14]. On the other hand, single further whilst continuous ‘1’s impede the gain to
channel data rates in optical communication systems recover. The result is that the gain and thus the
are progressively increased in order to satisfy the amplitude of a specific bit depends on the preceding
broadband needs created due to the massive use of bits, leading to amplitude distortion at the output of
Internet and multimedia applications. Thus for all the SOA. This effect is more intense when the
these combined reasons it would be practically logical content changes from ‘1’ to ‘0’, since a ‘1’
interesting to investigate if the specific pattern effect saturates the SOA and the ‘0’ that follows leaves
suppression concept can be efficiently extended and time for gain recovery so that the next ‘1’ exhibits a
adapted to such demanding requirements. This goal different gain than the previous ‘1’. This behavior is
is theoretically pursued in this paper by applying an verified from the variation of the SOA gain in
appropriate model to describe the operation of a response to the indicative pattern frame of 11010001
SOA when it is driven by a 20 Gb/s pseudorandom simulated according to the information provided in
binary sequence (PRBS) and link it with that of a DI. the next section and depicted in the following figure.
By undertaking a methodical approach based on
numerical simulation the impact of the involved
critical parameters on the resultant amplitude
modulation with and without the DI is thoroughly
investigated, revealing the pivotal role played by this
passive element in relaxing the technical restrictions
that would be imposed, if it were absent, on the
working conditions of a single SOA device in order
to suppress the undesirable pattern-dependent
wandering. Finally, useful guidelines are derived for
their proper selection and combination so as to
optimize the defined quality metric, which
determines decisively the performance of a SOA
when used for direct amplification purposes. The
outcome of this study may assist the design of more
complex SOA-based circuits and subsystems that
incorporate a DI for addressing the serious issue of Figure 2: Simulated SOA gain temporal evolution in
the pattern effect according to the suggested scheme. response to the pattern frame of 11010001
2 PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION As it can be clearly seen when two ‘1’s inside the
stream are separated by a ‘0’ then the trailing ‘1’
Fig. 1 illustrates the block diagram of the experiences a gain from a substantially recovered
configuration under study, which consists of a DI point that the leading ‘1’ did not have the time to
serially connected to a SOA. reach, and this situation is exacerbated for long
intervening strings of spaces. Similarly, in a row of
marks, the ‘1’ which follows just after the ‘1’ that

Ubiquitous Computing and Communication Journal 2

has been inserted first in the SOA (left-most bit in
the figure) and hence inevitably modified its optical
properties from a higher level, suffers a reduced gain
and this continues to happen for every next ‘1’ with
respect to its preceding bit until a steady-state is
established or the sequence is broken by a ‘0’.
Nevertheless, the specific gain variation, which
is the cause of the problem, can be suppressed by
noting that it is always accompanied by a phase
change, with the two phenomena being coupled
through the SOA linewidth enhancement factor [19].
This essentially implies that, for example, a mark
which appears immediately after one or more spaces
will undergo a stronger phase shift across its interval
than a ‘1’ positioned ahead of a ‘0’ but after one or
more ‘1’s since, as explained, the gain acquired by
the former is larger. This fact is evident in the
following figure obtained for the fixed values of the
data and SOA critical parameters cited in section 4.
Figure 3: Stand-alone SOA modulated phase
Therefore, if this phase discrepancy could be
converted to an amplitude modulation but of the
opposite magnitude, the peaks of the output ‘1’s
would be balanced and consequently the pattern
dependence would be alleviated. This can be
achieved by exploiting the relative delay, ∆τ,
between the two branches of a DI formed by
connecting together a pair of 50/50 couplers. A pulse
that comes out from the SOA is coupled into the
input port of the DI and then it is split in two beams
of equal intensity, which propagate along the upper
and lower arm, respectively, where without loss of
generality the former is the one that has a delay ∆τ.
As a result the corresponding halved constituent
reaches the second coupler later than its copy whose
path is shorter. This relative temporal difference is
translated to the creation of a phase difference,
namely ∆φ = 2πc∆τ/λ [20], where c is the speed of
light in vacuum and λ is the wavelength of the
injected optical signal. Thus when these beams
collide and interfere with each other at the other end
of the DI the produced result depends periodically on
the amount of their differential phase due to the
Ubiquitous Computing and Communication Journal
existence of ∆τ. Depending thus on how close this
quantity is to an even or an odd multipliciate of π,
the recombined optical power is more or less
transmitted at the crossed-coupled exit port,
respectively. The key thus for equalizing the peak
power of the ‘1’s emerging from the SOA is to
compensate their phase change induced inside this
active element by the phase difference imparted
between their direct and delayed version in the DI.
This can be realized by adjusting ∆τ so that the phase
variations resulting from straightforward
amplification are smoothed at the output of the DI, as
shown in the following figure obtained for a delay ∆τ
= 3 ps.
Figure 4: Difference between the directly modulated
phase and its delayed replica for ∆τ = 3 ps
Its comparison with Fig. 3 reveals that the temporal
offset in the DI creates a phase window across each
mark whose magnitude excursions occur around the
same level regardless of the exact ‘1’ position in the
driving pulse stream. In this manner the higher
amplified amplitudes can be clamped whilst the
lower ones enhanced so that they are equalized and
the pattern effect is effectively masked at the output
of the interferometer.
3 MODELING
The theoretical model that simulates the setup of
the concatenated SOA and DI has been built by
considering first the operation of each one of these
units. More specifically, the SOA response, h(t), to
the inserted optical data pulses of power Pdata (t) is
obtained if the partial coupled differential equations
describing the gain, power and phase evolution of a
strong optical signal that propagates and is amplified
in a SOA [21] are properly manipulated following
the procedure in [22] after the necessary valid
assumptions [23] have been made. In this manner it
can be mathematically described in the time domain
by the formula
3
 dh(t) 1 equals 2kπ and (2k + 1)π, respectively, where k is an
= ×
dt 1+ ε exp[ h(t)]Pdata (t)
⎧ ln(G ss ) − h(t) − ε exp h(t) −1 dPdata (t) − ⎫
⎪⎪ Tcarrier [ ( ) ] dt ⎪
⎪
⎨ ⎬
⎪−[exp( h(t) ) −1] Pdata (t)⎛⎜ ε + 1 ⎞⎟ ⎪
⎪⎩
⎝ Tcarrier Esat ⎠ ⎪⎭
where the SOA unsaturated small signal power gain,
G ss , and carrier lifetime, Tcarrier , are treated as
varying parameters, whilst its nonlinear gain
compression factor due to the combined action of the
spectral hole burning and carrier heating intraband
effects, ε, and its saturation energy, E sat , are set to
the representative values for bulk InGaAsP
semiconductor materials operating at 1550 nm of 0.2
W-1 and 1000 fJ, respectively. Eq. (1) can be
numerically solved in a step-wise manner by
dividing the optical pulse in many small temporal
segments, approximating the time derivative by a
finite difference [2] and applying the appropriate
initial conditions at the end facets of a 1000 µm long
SOA, according to the details stated in [24]. The
input data signal used in this procedure is a RZ 20
Gb/s PRBS of word length 27-1 whose Gaussian-
shaped ‘1’ s have varying energy, E data , and full-
width at half-maximum (FWHM), T . the DI and although there is no absolute criterion to
FWHM
The knowledge of h(t) allows to find the power
and the phase shift acquired by each pulse at the
output of the SOA from the relationships [19]
Pout, SOA (t) = Pdata (t)exp [ h(t)]
1
φ out, SOA (t) = − αh(t)
2 scopes of the simulation are not appropriate since the
respectively, where α is traditional linewidth
enhancement factor. On the other hand, it is known
that when a signal of initial power Pin, DI (t) and
phase φin, DI (t) is inserted in a DI whose two
constructing couplers have 50/50 splitting ratio then
its power at its crossed output port is given from [25]
⎧ Pin, DI (t) + Pin, DI (t −∆τ) + ⎫
1 ⎪⎪ ⎪⎪
Pout, DI (t) = ⎨ + 2 Pin, DI (t)Pin, DI (t −∆τ) × ⎬
4⎪
⎪
⎪⎩× cos[ ∆φ DI (t) ] ⎪⎭
which indicates that it is maximized and minimized
when the phase difference between the upper and
lower arms
∆φ DI (t) = φin, DI (t) − φin, DI (t − ∆τ) )
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integer. Since the SOA drives the input of the DI, the
combination of these elements can be modeled if
(1) Pin, DI (t) is replaced with Pout, SOA (t) from Eq. (2)
and φin, DI (t) with φ out, SOA (t) from Eq. (3) so that
Eq. (4) is modified to read
⎧ ⎫
⎪P (t) + Pout, SOA (t −∆τ) + ⎪
⎪ out, SOA ⎪
1⎪ ⎪ (6)
Pout, DI (t) = ⎨+ 2 Pout, SOA (t)Pout, SOA (t −∆τ) ×⎬
4⎪ ⎪
⎪× cos ⎡ − α ( h(t) − h(t − ∆τ) ) ⎤ ⎪
⎢⎣ 2 ⎥⎦
⎩⎪ ⎭⎪
4 RESULTS
The performance of the proposed scheme is
evaluated in terms of the amplitude modulation
P
(AM), which is defined as AM (dB) = 10 log max ,
Pmin
where Pmax is the maximum and Pmin the minimum
peak power of the marks at the output of either the
SOA or the DI computed numerically through Eq.
(2) or (6), respectively. This metric characterizes in a
quantitative manner the extent of the pattern effect in
a SOA as well as the degree of its suppression after
which it must comply it is widely accepted that it
should not exceed 1 dB [26]. However, the
achievement of this goal in a SOA that is not assisted
by a DI is not trivial because its performance is
susceptible to several factors, which include the
(2) energy and FWHM of the data pulses as well as the
SOA carrier lifetime, small signal gain and linewidth
enhancement factor. For example, the values 300 fJ,
(3) 7 ps, 80 ps, 25 dB and 6, respectively, used for the
calculated AM of almost 1.2 dB is unacceptable.
This is inevitably reflected on the quality of the
amplified data stream, as it can be seen indeed in Fig.
5 for the representative 8-bit-long segment used
throughout the simulation for illustration purposes.
Clearly, the amplitudes of the amplified pulses
situated at the 2nd, 4th and 8th bit slots are not equal
for the reasons explained in section 2. More precisely,
the peak of the last ‘1’ surpasses that of the two other
‘1’s since it is preceded by a run of three zeros and
(4) hence encounters a gain that has had the time to
recover to a raised level. Similarly, the third ‘1’
senses a lower but still elevated gain as it is preceded
by a ‘0 and so its peak is higher than that of the
second ‘1’. The latter in turn enters the SOA after the
first ‘1’ has strongly perturbed the carrier density
from an initial unsaturated state, and consequently it
perceives a gain exposed to a greater dynamic strain.
(5)
4

Figure 5: Pattern-dependent amplified output after
the SOA alone in response to 11010001
It is thus necessary to explore under which operating
conditions the desired requirement for the AM can
be fulfilled in a single SOA and also to identify how
the addition of a DI can positively contribute to the
accomplishment of the same target. For this purpose,
each one of the critical parameters is scanned within
a realistic range of values, while the temporal delay
inserted by the DI is varied in incremental steps, so
as to interpret its AM curve.
The graph of the AM against the energy of the
data pulses that are inserted in the SOA is presented
in Fig. 6.
Figure 6: AM variation vs. energy of input data
pulses for different ∆τ
Initially, it is seen that when the SOA is alone the
examined metric is unacceptable in the entire span
across which the specific parameter is varied,
because as the latter is increased the gain excursions
between the recovered and saturated states are
enlarged aggravating the peak power fluctuations.
The net result is that the SOA cannot be driven by an
optical signal of strong or even moderate energy
relative to its nominal saturation energy and the only
way of avoiding the pattern effect would be to
Ubiquitous Computing and Communication Journal
significantly reduce the energy of the input signal,
which however is not an appropriate solution as it
suffers from the severe drawback of the output
signal-to-noise-ratio degradation [7], [10].
Nevertheless, with the increase of the temporal delay
offered by the DI the curve is progressively shifted
downwards, which is a highly desirable feature since
it indicates that thanks to this element the AM can be
levelled-off. Moreover, its slope is reversed and the
AM becomes smallest for a given ∆τ at the rightmost
side of the energy values. This behavior is attributed
to the fact that the more energetic data pulses
undergo a larger phase variation as they pass through
the SOA. This in turn is accompanied according to
Eq. (5) by the formation in the DI of a phase
difference window of higher magnitude inside which
the required interference conditions can be met more
efficiently than for the case of a weaker input [27].
Furthermore, the AM can be reduced and stay below
1 dB regardless of the exact amount of the pulse
energy inserted in the SOA and the associated
saturation regime in which it lies, because the
suppression mechanism has a wider margin to be
properly established. For example the value ∆τ = 3
ps drops the AM at the two energy extremes to 0.64
dB and 0.23 dB compared to 1.16 dB and 1.2 dB
without the DI, respectively. This essentially means
that the connection of a DI after a SOA, which
directly amplifies RZ picosecond pulses,
compensates for the pattern dependent distortion on
the output signal in an increased input energy
dynamic range where operation is extended to the
saturation regime.
The calculated AM as a function of the FWHM
of the input data pulses is plotted in Fig. 7 bearing in
mind that it must be kept over the maximum ∆τ in
order for the pulse delayed in the upper arm of the DI
to meet at the output coupler the direct pulse from
the lower arm and interfere with it properly [28].
Figure 7: AM dependence on FWHM of input data
pulses for different ∆τ
Before proceeding with its interpretation, it must be
5
noted that for the NRZ pulses used in [14] this evidence that Tcarrier is the main constraining factor
parameter is of no significance since by definition for the amplification performance of a single SOA
the power content of a bit ‘1’ stays high throughout [2].
its entire time slot. On the contrary, for the RZ
format used in this work, the duration of the pulses is
shorter than the bit period by a fraction that is
determined by the duty cycle and subsequently the
FWHM, whose contribution must be thus definitely
taken into account. Initially it is observed that
although the AM is affected when the DI is
employed, however its dependence on ∆τ is weak
when the FWHM is comparatively much larger. This
is the case for pulse width values near the rightmost
side of the diagram where regardless of ∆τ the AM
remains inadmissible. From a physical standpoint
this situation is justified by noting that the intensity
content of a wider data pulse affects for a longer time
the SOA optical properties whose amendment is thus
protracted to a point where the associated gain
fluctuations between the marks cannot be
Figure 8: AM change against SOA carrier lifetime
compensated even with the use of a DI.
for different ∆τ
Nevertheless, with the decrease of the FWHM, the
gain transitions from the initial and high to the final
Nevertheless, Fig. 8 reveals the appealing feature
and smaller dynamic state become steeper and are
that thanks to the use of a DI it is not necessary for
thus averaged to the same level for all ‘1’s, which
the SOA to recover completely between successive
leads to an enhanced degree of amplitude
data pulses in order to equalize their different output
suppression. Therefore, in each one of the derived
amplitudes, as it would be definitely required in the
curves, the more the pulse width is reduced towards
absence of this passive element. Instead, the recovery
the corresponding temporal offset of the DI, the more
time can be slower and combat à posteriori the
the AM falls taking its minimum among them when
inevitable pattern dependencies that manifest in this
the FWHM comes closer to the upper bound of the
case at the SOA exit through the proper adjustment
considered ∆τ, i.e. for T = 5 ps . Interestingly of the temporal mismatch between the paths of the
FWHM
these findings are in qualitative agreement with those DI. This possibility is offered by noting that a higher
derived from the numerical study of an all-optical Tcarrier can be tolerated for a given AM if ∆τ is
packet self-synchronization scheme, which also larger, and inversely the AM is improved if ∆τ is
exploits a SOA in tandem with a DI [28]. However, increased while Tcarrier remains constant. These
although the aforementioned FWHM value that
observations suggest thus to choose the maximum ∆τ
yields the best performance can be practically
= 3 ps and then indeed the AM curve for ∆τ = 0 ps is
provided from state-of-the-art mode-locked
transferred under the critical limit of 1 dB across a
semiconductor ring lasers, yet this comes at the
range of Tcarrier that extends up to almost two times
expense of an increased operational complexity.
Here is where the use of a DI can be transformed into the repetition interval. Physically this happens
a technological advantage and allow to maintain the because the phase window that is built-up in the DI
AM less than 1 dB with a broader pulse, which can is wider for a larger ∆τ and therefore can tolerate a
be produced by a much simpler source, such as a greater wandering of the phase shifts of the ‘1’s
gain-switched distributed feedback semiconductor dispersed inside the incoming PRBS [27] so that the
diode laser after linear compression in a dispersion level of their amplified amplitudes can be controlled
compensating fiber of appropriate length. In fact, an and balanced by the DI despite the finite Tcarrier .
optical delay of ∆τ = 3 ps in combination with The feasibility thus of combating at 20 Gb/s the
T = 7 ps results in the more than adequate AM restrictive effect of the carrier lifetime by means of a
FWHM
practically realizable DI is very attractive as it allows
of 0.49 dB. to overcome several obstacles related to the
The dependence of the AM on the carrier photonics technology that deals directly with this
lifetime is displayed in Fig. 8. As it can be fundamental issue. More specifically, there is no
characteristically seen in case of a single SOA the imperative need for exploiting at this working rate
considered metric is very vulnerable to the variations gain recovery acceleration techniques [5-6], given
of the specific parameter since it is dramatically that their implementation is not straightforward and
aggravated when the latter deviates away from the easy but demands the careful adjustment of the
operating period. This fact confirms the experimental

Ubiquitous Computing and Communication Journal 6

power and the proper selection of the wavelength of
the continuous-wave holding beam that is
responsible for speeding-up the carrier lifetime.
Furthermore, it is not necessary to raise the injection
current of the SOA [4], thus avoiding the use of
costly, complex and power consuming current
sources with the associated driving electronics.
Finally, it is not required to adopt the solution of a
longer SOA [4], which is a favorable option
concerning the contribution of the amplified
spontaneous emission (ASE) since then this effect is
weak and cannot harm the gain saturation behavior
of the SOA or the signal-to-noise ratio of the
amplified data pulses [4]. All the aforementioned
benefits highlight the catalytic role played by the DI
in neutralizing the impact of the slow carrier lifetime
and constitute the best proof of the merit of this
element when it is utilized in the proposed pattern
suppression concept.
The evolution of the AM versus the small signal
gain is portrayed in Fig. 9, which unveils that when
the SOA is on its own this metric is unacceptable
across the whole span from 22 dB to 30 dB.
Figure 9: Evolution of AM as a function of SOA
small signal gain for different ∆τ
An insight to this comportment can be gained by
recalling that with a given pulse energy and width as
well as carrier lifetime the gain variation is more
steep and intense for a higher G ss [29]. Accordingly,
the SOA properties are perceived within a broader
dynamic area so that the discrepancy between the
dropped and risen gains is expanded, which in turn
exacerbates the dependence of the amplified output
on the value of the preceding input data bits and has
thus an adverse impact on the achievable AM. This
essentially means that a SOA could be operated in its
classical role without causing pattern-dependent
degradation only if it would be biased to operate in
its unsaturated state, where the gain is a linear
function of the input power, or equivalently provide
a small single pass power gain. However, this failure
of the SOA to be operated with a large nominal small
Ubiquitous Computing and Communication Journal
signal gain that limits its usability can by overcome
by the crosswise subtraction of a delayed copy of the
amplified signal from itself using the DI. This action
opens a differential window [27] whose height can
be regulated through the selection of ∆τ so that the
phase excursions induced from those of the gain
inside the SOA are forced to occur around the same
average level. In this manner the intensity
fluctuations between the ‘1’s are eliminated
irrespectively of the order of their appearance in the
PRBS and thereby these logic symbols acquire a
balanced peak power, which is translated into a
diminished modulation depth and a more symmetric
output power profile. This is actually verified in Fig.
9 since as the time delay grows at a rate of 1 ps the
AM curve is gradually tilted towards the horizontal
axis becoming roughly independent of the single-
pass power gain. Therefore, the specific temporal
condition in the DI widens the range of gains that the
SOA can provide and enhances its flexibility as
amplifying element.
The influence of the linewidth enhancement
factor on the AM is depicted in Fig. 10 and it can be
interpreted by recalling that this parameter links from
Eq. (3) the fluctuations of the phase of a data signal
inside a SOA with those of the gain from which they
have been provoked.
Figure 10: Influence of SOA linewidth enhancement
factor on AM for different ∆τ
This fact in combination with the principle of
operation of the DI, which relies on the creation of
the proper phase difference between its two arms,
essentially means that the alpha-factor is expected to
have an impact on the overall performance only in
the presence of this element, as it is indeed evident
from Fig. 10 for ∆τ = 0 ps, where the AM remains
degraded to a constant level over 1 dB no matter the
value of α. However, things change with the
introduction of an optical delay since for every ∆τ
the AM is ameliorated with the increase of α. The
explanation for this improvement is that higher
7
values of this parameter incur stronger phase shifts in
the SOA, which in turn are followed by maximum
phase window excursions closer to the desired
degree of phase matching at the output of the DI [27].
Conversely, when α is not varied the AM can be
reduced by augmenting ∆τ, which is an action that is
equivalent to controlling the width of opening or
closure of the differential phase window and hence
the extent of pulse-to-pulse smoothing. In other
words, there is an interplay between α and ∆τ, which
allows to achieve a reasonable AM by altering either
one of them while keeping the other fixed. For
example, an AM less than 1 dB can be obtained for
the pairs α = 4, ∆τ = 2 ps and α = 8, ∆τ = 1 ps, whilst
almost full suppression is accomplished by utilizing
together the highest values of these parameters
within their examined range, namely α = 10 and ∆τ =
3 ps.
From the examination and analysis of Figs. 6-10
it can be deduced that the most appropriate amount
of the temporal offset between the two arms of the
interferometer that effectively satisfies the AM
requirement for all the critical parameters is 3 ps.
The suitability of this choice is proved indeed by the
reduction of the AM obtained for a single SOA and
the fixed values used throughout the simulation from
1.2 dB to 0.47 dB as well as by the accompanying
amelioration in the quality of the amplified data
stream shown in Fig. 11.
Figure 11: Partial compensation of the pattern effect
in the amplified data train of Fig. 5 when a DI with
∆τ = 3 ps is serially connected to the SOA exit
However, although the difference compared to the
significant lack of uniformity in Fig. 5 is apparent,
the price paid is that the data sequence receives less
amplification. This finding complies with other
reports on techniques aiming at alleviating the
problem governing straightforward SOA
amplification, since they also have reported the
inevitable existence of such a penalty in order to
attain the desired goal [10-11], [30]. In effect the
relevant comparison of Figs. 5 and 11 verifies that
Ubiquitous Computing and Communication Journal
the reduction of the AM is accompanied by an
amplification drop at the output PRBS from 8.67 dB
to 7.16 dB. Still, this can be practically tolerated
without compromising the contribution of the DI and
the significant improvement offered by its use, which
can become even more pronounced if the specific ∆τ
is combined with a selection of E data , T ,
FWHM
Tcarrier , G ss and α, suggested according to Figs. 6-
10. For example with the set of values 500 fJ, 8 ps,
100 ps, 28 dB and 8, respectively, the marks that
have been unevenly transmitted by the SOA are
equalized, as it is apparent in Fig. 12, and the AM is
further reduced to approximately 0.22 dB.
Figure 12: Elimination of the pattern effect in the
amplified data stream of Fig. 5 for ∆τ = 3 ps and
critical parameters selection suggested from Figs. 6-
10
In contrast, the achievement of the same AM using a
stand-alone SOA would be possible only at the cost
of stricter operational requirements, namely a much
lower injected energy, E data = 100 fJ , a narrower
pulse width, T = 5 ps , a four times smaller
FWHM
SOA small signal gain, G ss = 22 dB , and, above all,
a faster and shorter than the period of the 20 Gb/s
PRBS SOA carrier lifetime, Tcarrier = 35 ps .
5 FREQUENCY DOMAIN APPROACH
A useful approach that can provide a different
insight on the principle of operation of the proposed
pattern suppression technique and complement the
interpretation of the obtained results is to view the
concept from the perspective of the frequency
domain. In this case the relevant power transfer
function of the delay interferometer at its crossed-
coupled output port is [31]
1
2
H DI (ω) = [1 + cos(∆τω)] (7)
2
8

Figure 13: Power transfer function of DI
which is depicted in Fig. 13. Due to its cosinusoidal
form it can be realized that the device acts as a notch
filter with the null points of its spectrum situated at
± (2k+1)/(2∆τ), k ∈ Z , relative to the optical
carrier frequency, whereas the distance between the
transmission peaks, which defines the free spectral
range (FSR), is equal to the inverse of the inserted
delay [31]. Therefore, with the proper modification
of ∆τ the periodic comb-like profile of the DI can be
controlled to attenuate and hence suppress any
undesirable frequency components in its incident
signal, which is clearly an attractive property that
could be well exploited to alleviate the pattern effect
in an ultrafast data stream amplified by a SOA. This
is possible in the case of interest due to the frequency
chirp induced from the manifestation of self-phase
modulation (SPM) in a pulse when its energy is
increased towards the saturation level of a SOA
through which it is propagated [19]. This is
mathematically described by the time derivative of
the phase response according to the expression [19]
1 dφout, SOA (t) (8)
∆ν out, SOA (t) = −
2π dt
which is plotted in Fig. 14 for the same transform-
limited input data pattern frame and parameter values
used in Figs. 2 and 3 while calculating φ out, SOA (t)
from Eq. (3) by means of the established numerical
methodology. As it can be seen the ‘on’ pulses
acquire a chirp that is significantly negative at their
leading edge, almost linear around their main part
and somewhat positive at their trailing edge. These
characteristics confirm the experimental evidence
available for the pure amplification of an ultrafast
RZ pulse train in a single SOA [32]. Moreover, they
designate that the spectral components corresponding
to the leading edge are shifted enough to the low
sideband (red chirp), whereas those corresponding to
the trailing edge remain closer to the position of the
input carrier frequency since their maximum
Ubiquitous Computing and Communication Journal
magnitude is comparatively smaller. The red chirp is
related to carrier depletion and gain compression
whilst the blue chirp is linked to carrier regeneration
and gain recovery [33]. This in turn means that their
magnitude is proportional to the rate of change of the
carrier concentration and subsequently of the gain.
For this reason it would be rationally expectable that
the pattern effect observed in the gain variation
would also be imposed on both of them. However, as
it can be seen in Fig. 14, this holds almost
exclusively for the red chirp whose peaks suffer
indeed from strong fluctuations unlike those of the
blue one. In the latter case an increase in the peaks
occurs only for successive ‘1’s, since then the carrier
recombination rate is enhanced due to the weaker
carrier depletion, but nevertheless it is so small that it
can hardly be noticed.
Figure 14: Simulated chirp at the SOA output
This pronounced discrepancy in the pattern
dependence is attributed to the different time scale
on which the two chirping phenomena take place. In
fact the carrier depletion and the accompanying
phase increase in the leading edge of the pulse is
rather faster compared to the much slower carrier
replenishment and the concomitant phase decrease in
its trailing edge, which gives rise to an
approximately constant amount of blue chirp.
Therefore the explanation of the pattern effect from
the frequency domain standpoint can be given by
focusing on the red chirp form in Fig. 14 and
correlating it with the relevant gain change in Fig. 2
[34]. More specifically, the rising edge of the first ‘1’
acquires the largest red chirp among all the marks
owing to the fact that for the same energy its gain is
dropped from the maximum possible level, i.e. that
of the unsaturated state, and as a by-product the
incurred gain difference is the highest. Similarly the
next peak is that of the last ‘1’ as it is preceded by a
run of three ‘0’s. In contrast the lower the carrier
density, or equivalently the greater the extent of gain
compression, the slower additional carriers are
depleted, thereby resulting in decreased gain
9
excursion and accordingly less red chirp, as it is the loss [35]. These implications designate that the
case for consecutive ‘1’s where the SOA cannot fully important benefits offered by the scheme are
recover in between them. In this context it is realized partially compromised by an inevitable amplification
that the root of the problem is the broadening of the reduction, which is a penalty that was also verified in
spectrum to the low frequency region and the the time domain.
unequal peaks of the red chirp, which in turn
suggests that if they could be suppressed then the
issue of patterning would be resolved. Clearly the
most direct means of achieving this goal is by
filtering out the red-shifted sideband while not
impairing the frequency of the inserted signal.
Concurrently the spectral component of the trailing
edge must be favored but without being converted
into amplitude information. Here is where the DI can
be employed to satisfy these requirements and
eliminate the distortion of the pulses exiting the SOA
by exploiting the frequency discrimination capability
that it exhibits thanks to the shape of its transfer
function. For this purpose its frequency at
transparency is positively detuned, through the
proper selection of the time delay, a bit higher, i.e.
by a small fraction of the FSR, than that at which the
introduced signal is centered [35]. This essentially
Figure 15: Simulated chirp at the DI output for the
implies that as the frequency decreases so does the
same ∆τ and parameter values as in Fig. 12
transmittance and accordingly the unwanted red
spectral components are attenuated in direct analogy
6 CONCLUSION
to the degree they have been shifted. In this manner
the variations in the red chirp amplitudes are
In summary, the feasibility of equalizing with
drastically clamped and in particular the more ∆τ is
the use of a DI the uneven pulse amplitudes
grown the more they are eliminated. This happens
occurring at the output of a stand-alone SOA when it
because then the filter’s response becomes steeper
is excited by a RZ repetitive data train that is faster
and the corresponding spectral components are
than its natural carrier lifetime has been theoretically
gradually pushed to fall around its notches, thus
explored and demonstrated by means of numerical
suffering greater loss and being blocked regardless of
simulation. Based on the interpretation of a set of
the exact mark location they stem from. The
graphical information for the amplitude modulation
observation of Figs. 6-10 confirms indeed this fact
in the presence or not of the DI it has been possible
since the augmentation of ∆τ for given involved
to evaluate the influence exerted by the involved
parameters improves the performance, while as it
critical parameters on this quality metric and figure-
was found among its scanned values the highest is
out how to achieve its improvement. In this manner
the preferred one in order to satisfy the targeted
it has been inferred that if the temporal delay inserted
criterion for the AM in a widened operational range.
by the DI is properly chosen the peak power
The beneficial action of the DI filtering on the chirp
fluctuations in the directly amplified data signal can
is illustrated in Fig. 15. This has been obtained by
be balanced and the profile of the latter become
numerically calculating, according to the definition
symmetrical. Furthermore, the requirements that
of this measure, the time derivative of the phase
must be fulfilled in order to avoid the consequences
difference from Eq. (5), which is a process reduced
of the deleterious pattern effect are relaxed and the
through Eq. (3) to the knowledge of both dh(t)/dt and
useful operational range of the involved key
of its delayed version from Eq. (1). Indeed the red
parameters is extended. With the aid thus of the DI
chirp is reduced and its fluctuations are strongly
the required performance criterion set for the AM
suppressed, as opposed to Fig. 14, but it must be
can be satisfied at 20 Gb/s by a SOA that operates
noted that inevitably the useful information
over an expanded saturation regime in terms of its
contained in these spectral components is lost. This
small signal gain or the energy of its driving data
rejection also concerns the blue ones since as it can
pulses, while the latter are simultaneously allowed to
be seen they are transferred nearly on the zero chirp
exhibit a wider FWHM. Furthermore, the intrinsic
level. This happens because for the increased ∆τ
characteristic of the slow carrier lifetime that
required to achieve better pattern-independent
ultimately limits the performance of conventional
operation they are forced to lie in a portion of the
SOAs no longer constitutes a technical barrier and
positive slope DI transfer function that can be
despite its existence the pattern dependencies can be
considered linear, thus suffering a greater insertion
mitigated by means of the DI. These results show

Ubiquitous Computing and Communication Journal 10

that the proposed scheme contributes decisively to
the cancellation of the pattern effect but at the
expense of a reduction in data signal amplification.
Nevertheless, this penalty is practically tolerable and
cannot impair the significance of the aforementioned
operational benefits, which suggest that a DI together
with its simplicity of implementation, its integration
potential and its cost-effectiveness can constitute a
powerful solution for combating the pattern effect in
a SOA deployed in its classical amplifying role. The
contribution of this stage was also explained in the
frequency domain since the DI essentially is a
filtering element. In this context it was shown that if
the minimum of its transfer function is suitably tuned
to remove the fluctuations in the instant negative
frequency deviation associated with the phase
modulation at the SOA output then it can be usefully
exploited to restore the distorted profile of the
amplified data pulses. Moreover, the main
implications derived from this approach were found
to be consistent with those in the time domain, thus
allowing to understand the role of the DI in a
spherical manner. The theoretical confirmation of
the competence of the considered scheme to
successfully handle RZ pulses arriving as twice as
often than previously reported [36] constitutes in
addition a proof of its speed transparency up to the
specific extended bit rate. Therefore, the pattern-free
performance of straightforward amplification in
single SOAs can be enhanced with direct by-product
the better exploitation of these devices for the
implementation of higher capacity photonic
communication systems and networks.
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