Linear and nonlinear crosstalk suppression for DWDM RZ-DPSK transmitter using a saturated SOA as power booster amplifier

Saturated semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) can be used as booster amplifiers for dense wavelength-division-multiplexing (DWDM) return-to-zero differential phase-shift keying (RZ-DPSK) transmitters. By introducing time interleaving (TI), both linear crosstalk induced by WDM components and nonlinear crosstalk induced by SOA nonlinearities are suppressed. Receiver sensitivities for four-channel DWDM RZ-DPSK signals with 100- and 50-GHz channel spacing were improved 2.2 and 4.2 dB, respectively, by applying proper TI between adjacent channels. A 1-dB gain enhancement was also achieved.