Bit-Error-Rate Assessment of 170-Gb/s Regeneration Using a Saturable Absorber and a Nonlinear-Fiber-Based Power Limiter

A 170-Gb/s all-optical 2R regenerator made up of a fast saturable absorber and a highly nonlinear-fiber-based power limiter is reported for the first time. Bit-error-rate assessment of one of the four 42.5-Gb/s optical time-division-multiplexed tributaries shows a receiver sensitivity improvement.