Self-starting photonic clock using semiconductor optical amplifier based Mach-Zehnder interferometer

A novel self-starting photonic clock device is proposed. The device generates photonic clock signals passively by utilising cross-phase modulation in a DC biased semiconductor optical amplifier based Mach-Zehnder interferometer (SOA-MZI) with optical feedback loop(s) and a continuous-wave laser source. Generation of a 950 MHz clock signal is demonstrated.