Wavelength division multiplexing-passive optical network using a graphene-based ultrashort pulsed fiber laser

We present a wavelength division multiplexing-passive optical network (WDM-PON) that uses a graphene-based ultrashort pulsed fiber laser (USPL) as multi-wavelength source. The performance of this WDM-PON system is analyzed in two stages: at first, the USPL was designed, implemented, and characterized experimentally. Then experimental data from the USPL spectrum were then introduced into a simulated network using the software VPItransmissionMaker™, for testing the WDM-PON system performance. The results show that it is possible to achieve an error-free transmission (BER  <  10  −  9) for distances up to 30 km using a non-return to zero modulation format with a bit rate of 10 Gbps and 18 dB optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR). In comparison with an externally modulated distributed-feedback laser, a distance and OSNR penalties   <  5  km and 0.4 dB, respectively, were achieved. Furthermore, this USPL exhibited a 3-dB bandwidth close to 22 nm, which means more than 100 optical channels could be obtained when considering a 12.5 GHz standard grid. Thus due to the number of generated channels, a remarkable cost reduction could be achieved in comparison with conventional WDM-PON systems.