All-optical switchable UWB pulses generation, modulation and transmission

We proposed and demonstrated all-optical polarity- and shape-switchable ultrawideband (UWB) Gaussian pulses generation schemes using a single polarization interferometer (PI) or a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) cascaded by a PI. When an optical signal with dark return-to-zero (RZ) format propagates directly through a single PI, a pair of polarity-reversed UWB monocycle pulses and a positive UWB doublet pulse is acquired respectively only by adjusting the polarization controllers, without changing the bias of the intensity modulator. If a SOA is connected at the input of the PI to firstly implement the first-order differential function to the input dark RZ pulse utilizing gain saturation effect of the SOA, both polarity- and shape-switchable UWB Gaussian monocycle and doublet pulses are all acquired from the cascaded system. Moreover, if a nonreturn-to-zero control signal is introduced into the SOA, utilizing the cross-gain modulation (XGM) effect of the SOA and the differential characteristic of PI, all-optical shape modulation to UWB signals can be realized, and the polarity of the modulated UWB pulses can also be switched. Also, UWB signal transmission characteristics in fiber link were investigated.

Research Highlights
► We proposed and demonstrated all-optical polarity- and shape-switchable ultrawideband (UWB) Gaussian pulses generation schemes using a single polarization interferometer (PI) or a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) cascaded by a PI.
► Utilizing cross-gain modulation (XGM) effect of the SOA and differential characteristic of PI, all-optical shape modulation to UWB signals can be realized, and the polarity of the modulated UWB pulses can also be switched.
► UWB signal transmission characteristics in fiber link were investigated.