CHIRP AND SYSTEM PERFORMANCE OF INTEGRATED LASER MODULATORS

Time-resolved chirp measurements and laser-threshold measurements are used to understand the chirp performance of integrated laser electroab sorption modulators. The different effects of the intrinsic modulator chirp component and chirp caused by optical feedback, from reflection at the output facet into the laser, are observed. A figure of merit is introduced to assess the chirp performance, which shows good correlat ion with dispersion penalty measurements. The effect of reflection-ind uced chirp is considerably reduced by operating the modulator with neg ative chirp. An optimized device is reported, which delivers purely ne gative chirp with reasonable optical power.