Generation of transform-limited optical pulses up to 20 GHz from a monolithic electroabsorption modulator/DFB laser

Stable generation of transform-limited optical pulses using a monolithic electroabsorption (EA) modulator/DFB laser was demonstrated. The integrated device had a small alpha -parameter less than 0.3 and a wide electrical bandwidth over 20 GHz. The time-bandwidth products of the generated optical pulses were less than 0.33 in the modulation frequency between 5 and 20 GHz. Temporal forms of the pulses were in good agreement with the sech ² pulse form. The over 4 dBm output peak power was achieved from the EA modulator facet for 20 GHz modulation frequency.<>