Noise Suppression in Quantum-Dot Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers: A Bit Rate-SNR Analysis

Based on high output saturation power of quantum dot semiconductor optical amplifiers, it has been shown that exploiting a saturating holding beam (HB) can effectively suppress amplitude noise with HB power as a tunability degree of freedom. A simultaneous study of amplitude noise and pattern effect induced at high data rates on the quality factor of output signal reveals that desirable Q-factor level can be obtained through modifying the bias current density and HB power. An upper data rate limit for Q-factor penalty-free operation at various input signals to noise ratios is also predicted. A wide power range for the applied HB is promising for developing a tunable noise suppression scheme.