Compact high sensitivity 10 Gbit/s SOA-filter-pin receiver module

A compact high performance photoreceiver module including a low noise semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), an optical filter, a wideband photodiode and a transimpedance amplifier has been realised and characterised. The measured sensitivity at 10 Gbit/s is -31.4 dBm. An EDFA free 10 Gbit/s transmission experiment over 80 km SSMF is reported. These results indicate fine prospects for cost-effective high performance photoreceivers for high bit rate systems.