Photonic generation of UWB impulses by using a Fabry–Pérot semiconductor optical amplifier

A novel approach to generating ultra-wideband (UWB) impulses based on a Mach–Zehnder modulator (MZM) and a Fabry–Pérot semiconductor optical amplifier (FP-SOA) is proposed and demonstrated. Both the carrier dynamic behavior of SOA and the feedback of FP cavity are exploited to generate a pair of polarity-reversed doublet-like impulses. Simulations and experiments are carried out to verify the UWB generation. In the experiment, the fractional bandwidths of the negative-doublet-like and the positive-doublet-like impulses are 100% and 108%, respectively. The bit error rate (BER) performance of the UWB before and after a span of 19-km standard single mode fiber (SSMF) transmission is also investigated and error-free performance can be achieved for each condition. Finally the UWB wireless transmission over a span of 10 cm is investigated.