Compression of pulses generated by an electroabsorption modulator at 10 GHz

Summary form only given. For optical multiplexing and demultiplexing in ultrahigh-bit-rate optical time-division-multiplexed systems as well as optical processing there is a demand for sources of short pulses with low duty cycles. The implementation of direct modulation techniques based on high-speed modulators like the electroabsorption modulator (EAM) is practically very attractive, but with a single-pass modulator it is difficult to generate the low duty cycles required. So far, 6.3-ps pulses at 10 GHz with a 6% duty cycle have been achieved using an EAM in conjunction with chirp compensation. We demonstrate the application of linear and non-linear techniques in order to further compress pulses generated by an EAM.