High-speed optical pulse transmission at 1.29-mum wavelength using low-loss single-mode fibers

• Published in: IEEE journal of quantum electronics 1978-11, Vol.14 (11), p.791-800
• Main Authors: Saruwatari, M, Asatani, K, Tsuchiya, H, Kawana, A, Sugiyama, K, Kimura, T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0018-9197

Optical-fiber transmission experiments in the 1.3-mum wavelength region are reported. GaInAsP/InP double-heterostructure semiconductor laser emitting at 1.293 mum is modulated directly in nonreturn-to-zero (NRZ) codes at digit rates tanging from 100 Mbit/s to 1.2 Gbit/s. Its output is transmitted through low-loss GeO(2)-doped single-mode silica fibers in 11-km lengths. Transmitted optical signals are detected by a high-speed Ge avalanche photodiode. Overall loss of the 11-km optical fibers, including 11 splices, is 15.5 dB at 1.3 mum. Average received optical power levels necessary for 10(-9)error rate are -39.9 dBm at 100 Mbit/s and -29.1 dBm at 1.2 Gbit/s. In the present system configuration, the repeater spacing is limited by loss rather than dispersion. It seems feasible that a more than 30 km repeater spacing at 100 Mbit/s and a more than 20 km even at 1.2 Gbit/s can be realized with low-loss silica fiber cables, whose loss is less than 1 dB/km. Distinctive features and problems associated with this experimental system and constituent devices are discussed.