4×100 Gb/s WDM DD-OFDM using EAM for next generation Ethernet transceivers over SMF

•The feasibility of a 4×100 Gb/s optical DD-OFDM system is demonstrated up to 10-km.•A proposal for next-generation Ethernet, running at 400 Gb/s, is put forward.•First numerical analysis of a 100 Gb/s DD-OFDM channel using EAM.•A performance comparison between MZMs and EAMs within a DD-OFDM system.

The technical feasibility (pre-FEC BER<3.8×10−5) of an unamplified 4×100 Gb/s wavelength division multiplexed direct-detection optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system that uses electro-absorption modulators is numerically demonstrated for 2 and 10-km reach of single-mode fiber in C-band. Based on the use of specifications of currently available (realistic) components, error-free operation is achieved by finding optimum values for bias voltage and electrical gain in the modulator, and by employing a simple, yet powerful, peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR)-reduction technique. A performance comparison with a Mach-Zehnder driven system is presented too. The architecture here put forward can be used to define next-generation 400 Gb/s Ethernet standard.