Transmission of a 120-GBd PM-NRZ Signal Using a Monolithic Double-Side EML

A 120-GBd polarization multiplexed NRZ (PMNRZ) signal is generated using a monolithic double side electroabsorption modulated distributed feedback (DFB) laser. Using a pre-amplified direct detection receiver and direct detection faster than Nyquist technique, the optical receiver sensitivities of -18.3 and -13.5 dBm are obtained for a 240-Gb/s (a net data rate of 200 Gb/s with 20% soft-decision forward error correction) PM-NRZ signal at back-to-back and after 2-km transmission, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest baud rate transmission reported to date for single channel polarization multiplexed signal generated by a single device for short reach applications and the longest transmission distance (2 km) at baud-rate >100 GBd IM/DD system without CD compensation at 1.55 μm.