Abstract: An optical translator that includes an interferometer and a plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) coupled to the interferometer. The at least two of the SOAs receives data and a clock signal. The data is received by the at least two SOAs at different times. A coupler combines each of a respective output of the at least two SOAs to provide output data. The output data is a retimed and a reshaped signal of the data provided to at least one of the plurality of SOAs.

Abstract: A method for modulating fiber optic transmissions with a low sensitivity to fiber non-linearity utilizes short pulses (typically shorter than 20 ps), and bit rates of 10 Gb/s and higher, to improve performance relative to heretofore known nonlinear transmission with Return-to-Zero (RZ) format implementations. At a base bit rate of 40 Gb/s, a distance determination for achieving 100% cumulative dispersion compensation is made, and a predetermined amount of pre-dispersion compensation is applied based on a determined distance using lower duty cycles for transmission. Higher bit rates (i.e., higher than 40 Gb/s) broaden the spectral bandwidth of the transmission and can result in no pre-dispersion compensation or negative distance pre-dispersion compensation of the same sign as the transmission fiber.

Abstract: An optical element for simultaneously retrieving the tributary data rate and the clock frequency from the line rate of an OTDM signal. The demultiplexing and clock recovery principle is based on injection locking of a high-Q-filtered and high gain loop with a variable phase delay and an EA-modulator with high non-linear response, i.e., absorption verses applied voltage. A modulator that is preferably an EA-modulator, an amplifier preferably an erbium doped fiber amplifier (“EDFA”), a base band receiver, an electronic amplifier, a high-Q filter, and a variable phase delay are arranged in a loop to provide an oscillator for simultaneously retrieving tributary data rate and clock frequency.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting a non-return-to-zero (NRZ) voltage data stream into an optical data stream in return-to-zero (RZ) format, is disclosed comprising supplying a continuous optical signal to a modulator, driving the modulator with an NRZ voltage data stream and encoding either the NRZ data stream or the electrical output of the receiver. The modulator can be an interferometer, such as a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, or a directional coupler, for example.

Abstract: The apparatus and method according to the present invention includes a semiconductor laser-modulator which is used to simultaneously generate optical pulses and encode data. The optical data output from the laser-modulator are soliton pulses in RZ format suitable for transmission in long distance optical communications.