Injection-locking laser-diode-based OC-192 optical non-return-to-zero-to-return-to-zero OR logic gate.

Area of Science:

• Optoelectronics
• Optical Communications
• Digital Logic Gates

Background:

• Optical logic gates are crucial for high-speed optical signal processing.
• Existing implementations often face limitations in speed, power efficiency, or integration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally demonstrate and theoretically interpret a novel optical OR logic gate.
• To achieve return-to-zero (RZ) formatted output for optical data streams.
• To investigate the performance of the gate at high data rates.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of an OR logic gate using a data format converter based on an optically injection-locked Fabry-Perot laser diode (FPLD).
• Modulation of the FPLD in a below-threshold condition.
• Injection of two non-return-to-zero (NRZ) data streams into the FPLD-based gate.

Main Results:

• Achieved a peak-power-equalized RZ-formatted OR logic data stream with an extinction ratio of >8 dB.
• Demonstrated a highest data rate of 12.5 Gbits/s with a bit error rate (BER) of 10(-13) at >-16 dBm received optical power.
• Observed a duty cycle of approximately 27% (27 ps) and a 0.5 dB power penalty at 9.953 Gbits/s.

Conclusions:

• The FPLD-based optical OR gate is a viable solution for high-speed optical signal processing.
• The demonstrated gate offers excellent performance metrics, including high data rates and low BER.
• This work paves the way for advanced optical computing and communication systems.