Record −22.5-dBm Sensitivity SOA-PIN-TIA Photoreceiver Module for 40-Gb/s Applications

This letter reports a 40-Gb/s photoreceiver module with differential outputs designed for short reach applications such as access network and data center interconnect. It consists of an indium phosphide (InP) semiconductor optical amplifier monolithically integrated with a p-i-n (SOA-PIN) photodiode, co-packaged with an InP linear transimpedance amplifier (TIA), both designed and fabricated at III-V Lab. A matching circuit is placed between the SOA-PIN and the TIA in order to increase the cutoff frequency. The module exhibits a -3 dB bandwidth of 43 GHz, a single-ended optoelectrical conversion gain of 10000 V/W for an optical input power of -25 dBm, and a record sensitivity of -22.5 dBm at a bit error rate of 10^-9 at 40 Gb/s in non-return-to-zero on/off-keying operation.