Ultra-low noise over wide-bandwidth of 1.55 μm InP-based quantum-dash Fabry-Perot lasers for microwave systems

During the European project, BIGBAND, we have developed 1.55 μm quantum dash Fabry-Perot lasers based on InP using a ridge waveguide operating in continuous wave at room temperature. These devices have not only reached a high power of 50mW per facet but also have shown an ultra low relative intensity noise (RIN) of -162 dB/Hz ± 1.6 dB/Hz in 0.1-13 GHz range for the first year. At the end of the project we have succeeded in obtaining a very low RIN of -160 dB/Hz ± 2 dB/Hz over a wide bandwidth from 50 MHz to 18 GHz. This paper deals with the analysis of the experimental results, obtained with quantum dash Fabry Perot lasers, especially those relating to noise performances and also the first results of reliability demonstrating the suitability of these new devices for microwave optical links.

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