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Journal of the Optical Society of America B

Parametric amplifiers in phase-noise-limited optical communications

Yi Mu, Craig M. Savage

Published Jan 1, 1992• 25 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Gordon and Mollenauer [ Opt. Lett.15, 1351 ( 1990)] have shown that the nonlinear Kerr effect limits the range of coherent communications systems using laser amplifiers. We show that parametric amplifiers avoid this limitation. Our method is novel in that we use quantum-optical master equations to model the communications systems. These are solved numerically for systems with either laser amplifiers or parametric amplifiers, with and without the nonlinear Kerr effect. Parametric amplifiers perform better because they preserve the signal-to-noise ratio and decrease the phase noise.

DOI
10.1364/josab.9.000065

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Gordon and Mollenauer [ Opt. Lett.15, 1351 ( 1990)] have shown that the nonlinear Kerr effect limits the range of coherent communications systems using laser amplifiers. We show that parametric amplifiers avoid this limitation. Our method is novel in that we use quantum-optical master equations to model the communications systems. These are solved numerically for systems with either laser amplifiers or parametric amplifiers, with and without the nonlinear Kerr effect. Parametric amplifiers perform better because they preserve the signal-to-noise ratio and decrease the phase noise.
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This study summarizes the theory of laser-amplifier noise based on the master equation, the quantum-mechanical Langevin equation, and the rate equation. The three approaches are used differently depending on the application. Laser-amplifier noise in the direct-detection receiver is described by the master equation. Meanwhile, the quantum-mechanical Langevin equation is most effective for analyzing noise appearing in coherent optical communication systems. The rate equation approach provides a clear understanding of the intensity-noise characteristics of laser oscillators, including the amplitude squeezing.
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