40 Gb/s all-optical RZ to NRZ format converter based on SOA and detuned filtering

A 40 Gb/s wavelength and return-to-zero (RZ) to non-RZ (NRZ) pulse format converter is experimentally demonstrated. The converter is based on wavelength conversion in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and detuned optical filtering. The ideal filter response is investigated, and approximated experimentally cascading two filters, for a 3 ps 40 Gb/s input RZ signal. An undistorted NRZ signal with 12.1 dB of extinction ratio and 1 dB of power penalty relatively to the input RZ signal is retrieved. The impact of the SOA chirp on the converted signal tolerance to chromatic dispersion is evaluated, with similar transmission distance comparing to common on-off-keying.